(a)
The State Department of Social Services shall adopt regulations to govern licensed transitional housing placement providers that provide supervised transitional housing to foster children at least 16 years of age and not more than 18 years of age, and nonminor dependents, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400.
(b)
The department may structure statewide implementation of transitional housing placement providers on a phased-in basis.
(c)
(1)Transitional Housing Program-Plus providers, as defined in subdivision (s) of Section 11400, shall not be subject to licensure pursuant to Section 1559.110 of the Health and Safety Code, if they are certified to provide transitional
housing by the applicable county and have obtained a local fire clearance.
(2)
By July 31, 2012, the department shall establish certification standards and procedures for the THP-Plus Foster Care program, as described in subdivision (c) of Section 16522.1, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association, the California Youth Connection, county probation departments, provider representatives, and other stakeholders, as appropriate.
(d)
Transitional housing placement providers shall certify that housing units comply with the health and safety standards set forth in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 1501 of the Health and Safety Code. Transitional housing shall include any of the following:
(1)
Programs in which a participant lives in an apartment, single-family dwelling, or condominium, with one
or more adults approved by the provider.
(2)
Programs in which a participant lives independently in an apartment, single-family dwelling, or condominium owned or leased by the provider either with an adult employee of the provider or in a building in which one or more adult employees of the provider reside and provide supervision.
(3)
Programs in which a participant lives independently in an apartment, single-family dwelling, or condominium owned or leased by a provider under the supervision of the provider if the State Department of Social Services provides approval. The housing model described in this paragraph shall be available to minor foster children, if placed prior to October 1, 2012, and to nonminor dependents.
(e)
The regulations shall be age-appropriate and recognize that youth who are about to exit from
the foster care system should be subject to fewer restrictions than those who are foster children. At a minimum, the regulations shall provide for both of the following:
(1)
Require programs that serve youth who are both in and out of the foster care system to have separate rules and program design, as appropriate, for these two groups of youth.
(2)
Allow youth who have exited from the foster care system, on or after their 18th birthday, to have the greatest amount of freedom possible in order to prepare them for their transition to adulthood.
(f)
The regulations governing licensed transitional housing placement providers that serve nonminor dependents shall be age appropriate and recognize that nonminor dependents who are about to exit from the foster care system should be subject to fewer restrictions than those
who are foster children. At a minimum, the regulations shall provide for both of the following:
(1)
Require programs that serve foster children and nonminor dependents to have separate rules and program design, as appropriate, for these two groups of youth.
(2)
Allow nonminor dependents to have the greatest amount of freedom possible in order to prepare them for their transition to adulthood, in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 1502.7 of the Health and Safety Code.
(3)
Maintain a program staffing ratio of case manager to client not to exceed 1 to 12.