California AB1602: Foster youth: disaster aid assistance.

What the bill says

An act to add Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 16590) to Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster youth. foster youth Foster youth: disaster aid assistance…

From the enrolled text, September 2, 2026:

An act to add Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 16590) to Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster youth. foster youth Foster youth: disaster aid assistance. Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings and governs the provision of child welfare services, which is defined to mean public social services that are directed toward the accomplishment of specified purposes, including protecting and promoting the welfare of all children, preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families, and restoring to their families children who have been removed. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to ensure that, among other things, emergency response services are coordinated with the implementation of specified program models. Existing law also requires each county to provide the department with a disaster response plan describing how county programs that receive federal assistance for child and family services would respond to a disaster. Existing law also requires the department to review its disaster plan, revise the plan to clarify the role and responsibilities of the state in the event of a disaster, and consult with counties to identify opportunities for collaboration in the event of a disaster. This bill would establish the Child Welfare Disaster Response Program, to be administered by the department. …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Blanca Rubio (D, AD48) · primary sponsor

Latest actions

1. September 20, 2026: Vetoed by Governor.
2. September 8, 2026: Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
3. August 28, 2026: In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
4. August 28, 2026: Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.).
5. August 13, 2026: From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).
6. August 13, 2026: Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
7. June 29, 2026: In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
8. June 16, 2026: From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
9. June 3, 2026: Referred to Com. on HUMAN S.
10. May 21, 2026: In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

Votes

• Assembly 3rd Reading AB1602 Blanca Rubio By Arreguín (August 28, 2026): 40 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass (August 13, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Placed on suspense file (June 29, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar (June 15, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
• AB 1602 Blanca Rubio Assembly Third Reading (May 21, 2026): 74 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Do pass. (May 14, 2026): 15 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is AB1602?

AB1602 is a bill in the California Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Foster youth: disaster aid assistance.

What does AB1602 do?

In its own words: An act to add Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 16590) to Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster youth. foster youth Foster youth: disaster aid assistance…

What is the status of AB1602?

Vetoed as of September 20, 2026. Latest action: Vetoed by Governor. (September 20, 2026).

Who sponsored AB1602?

Blanca Rubio (D, AD48).

Where is the official record for AB1602?

On the California Legislature website: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1602