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<ns0:Id>20250SB__119098AMD</ns0:Id>
<ns0:VersionNum>98</ns0:VersionNum>
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<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-19</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-03-25</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
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<ns0:MeasureType>SB</ns0:MeasureType>
<ns0:MeasureNum>1190</ns0:MeasureNum>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Grove</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:Authors>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Grove</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to add Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 1696) to Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to child welfare. </ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>child welfare</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>Safe Passage for Youth Act.</ns0:Subject>
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<ns0:DigestText>
<html:p>Existing law, the California Community Care Facilities Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of community care facilities, including a variety of facilities providing care and services to children, such as children’s crisis residential programs and short-term residential therapeutic programs, by the State Department of Social Services.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill, the Safe Passage for Youth Act, would require the department to license and regulate youth transportation companies operating in California. The bill would require the department to establish application requirements and criteria for licensure and to conduct criminal background checks of applicants, and certain other individuals, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to establish a reasonable
licensing fee that is no more than the amount necessary to cover the cost of administering and enforcing the act. The bill would, except as specified, prohibit a youth transportation company from operating in California without a license and impose various requirements and restrictions on youth transportation companies licensed pursuant to these provisions, including, among other things, a requirement that they maintain written policies governing the safety and welfare of minors and a prohibition on using restraints unless it is necessary to prevent imminent, serious physical harm and less restrictive alternatives are not available. The bill would authorize the department to review, suspend, or revoke a license under certain circumstances and authorize the Attorney General to bring an action in superior court to enforce the provisions of the act if a youth transportation company fails to obtain licensure as required or engages in repeated or egregious violations of the act.</html:p>
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<ns0:VoteRequired>MAJORITY</ns0:VoteRequired>
<ns0:Appropriation>NO</ns0:Appropriation>
<ns0:FiscalCommittee>YES</ns0:FiscalCommittee>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_93D8B8CC-E6D1-49D1-AE12-69C001E5F3E8">
<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 1696) is added to Division 2 of the
<ns0:DocName>Health and Safety Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:LawHeading id="id_F4A91073-E67B-4738-B6C8-CAD7D041EE75" type="CHAPTER">
<ns0:Num>7.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:LawHeadingText>Safe Passage for Youth Act</ns0:LawHeadingText>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_E7DFD3B9-DADD-4C0D-B39E-5DA217EB83FC">
<ns0:Num>1696.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards governing private youth transportation companies that transport minors to residential treatment programs or similar facilities in order to ensure safety, transparency, and appropriate oversight.</html:p>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_687FF2DD-4B54-4605-A087-39F371E9B56D">
<ns0:Num>1696.1.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Department” means the State Department of Social Services.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Minor” means an individual younger than 18 years of age.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Youth transportation company” means a business entity that transports a minor to a residential treatment program, therapeutic boarding school, wilderness program, behavioral modification program, or other residential youth placement.
</html:p>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_3217DF3D-A8DA-4198-A2EF-238F64EDAEC3">
<ns0:Num>1696.2.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department shall license and regulation youth transportation companies operating in California.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
In licensing and regulating youth transportation companies, the department shall do both of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
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Establish application requirements and criteria for licensure necessary to ensure that youth transportation companies satisfy minimum safety and operational standards.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
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Conduct criminal background checks of applicants and other individuals, consistent with the requirements of Section 1596.871.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
In licensing and regulating youth
transportation companies, the department may do all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Establish operational standards.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Investigate complaints and potential violations of operational standards.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Issue administrative citations and impose administrative penalties and civil fines.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Refer cases to the Attorney General for a civil enforcement action pursuant to Section 1696.7.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department may establish a reasonable licensing fee that is no more than the amount necessary to cover the cost of administering and enforcing this chapter.
</html:p>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_111B1BFC-AB73-436F-AEB6-E62CE7EBF443">
<ns0:Num>1696.3.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Except as described in subdivision (b), a youth transportation company shall not operate in California without a license pursuant to this chapter.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
All of the following are exempt from the licensure requirement in subdivision (a):
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
County child welfare agencies and their employees, including, but not limited to, child protective services workers.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Licensed child daycare facilities transporting children in their care.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Nonemergency medical transportation providers otherwise operating in compliance with state law.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Emergency ambulance providers.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Law enforcement and juvenile justice entities transporting individuals in their custody.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(6)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Parents, legal guardians, or family members transporting a minor.
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_7D191BB3-3A08-494A-8D3C-54F005235BA9">
<ns0:Num>1696.4.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_71C9C298-01B6-4B59-8B2A-822B24667F6D">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department may review, suspend, or revoke a license under any of the following circumstances:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The licensee is the subject of a criminal investigation related to the transportation of minors.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Law enforcement reports indicate conduct that may endanger the safety or welfare of minors.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department receives credible complaints regarding abuse, neglect, or unlawful conduct during the transportation of minors.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The licensee fails to comply with program requirements established by the department.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department may coordinate with law enforcement agencies and other state or local authorities when investigating potential violations of law or operational standards.
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_16B3AEC2-E865-4C91-BAD2-3A818A14AE07">
<ns0:Num>1696.5.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_EE32FC8F-7E48-4621-8FF3-04803040CA98">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>A youth transportation company licensed pursuant to this chapter shall do all of the following:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Enroll all drivers in the pull-notice system established by Section 1808.1 of the Vehicle Code in order to monitor driver records.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Ensure that all individuals involved in transporting minors completes training that addresses, at a minimum, all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and certification.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Duties imposed under the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11164) of Chapter 2 of
Title 1 of Part 4 of the Penal Code).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Behavioral deescalation techniques.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Safe transportation practices.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Prior to transporting a minor, obtain written consent from the parent or legal guardian of the child and maintain documentation that written consent was obtained. The documentation shall include authorization for transportation, identification of the destination facility or program, and contact information for the youth transportation company.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Document incidents occurring during transportation including, but not limited to, injuries, medical emergencies, use of physical restraints, and significant behavioral incidents, and maintain incident reports and make those reports available to the parents or legal guardians upon request.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Maintain written policies governing the safety and welfare of minors during transport. The policies shall address, at a minimum, access to food and water, access to restroom facilities, lodging when overnight transport occurs, and procedures for delays or itinerary changes.
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_1EF8D0A5-3505-4642-A3C6-3286848126A8">
<ns0:Num>1696.6.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_FD257C1D-1E32-4F5F-A895-682303930348">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>A youth transportation company licensed pursuant to this chapter shall not do either of the following:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Use any of the following during transport:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Blindfolds.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Hoods.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A device to obstruct a minor’s vision.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Except as described in subparagraph (B), mechanical restraints, including, but not limited to, handcuffs, chains, irons, and straight jackets, or physical restraints.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Restraints may be used
while transporting a minor if it is necessary to prevent imminent, serious physical harm and less restrictive alternatives are not available. Restraints shall not be used pursuant to this subparagraph as a punishment, for staff convenience, or as a substitute for supervision of minors.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Pick up a minor for transport between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m..
</html:p>
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</ns0:LawSection>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_2FC6D108-6B9D-4349-9B73-9DCB546D5711">
<ns0:Num>1696.7.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_09F5DAED-F3C7-46BA-BBDB-CEBCDCBD8CA7">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>The Attorney General may bring an action in superior court to enforce the provisions of this chapter if a youth transportation company fails to obtain licensure in compliance with this chapter or engages in repeated or egregious violations of this chapter. The Attorney General may seek the recovery of civil penalties, and shall be entitled to specific performance, injunctive relief, and other equitable remedies a court deems appropriate for enforcement of this chapter, including, but not limited to, an order prohibiting the company from operating within the state. The Attorney General shall be entitled to recover attorney’s fees and costs incurred in remedying each violation.</html:p>
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