Sacramento, CA – Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom’s legislation, Assembly Bill 741, has been signed into law, closing a dangerous loophole that left foster youth at risk.
Under prior law, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers and staff were required to undergo fingerprinting and screening through the Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) before working with children, and to renew that fingerprinting every four years. However, CASA programs were not automatically notified if a volunteer or employee was later added to the CACI due to a substantiated report of child abuse between screenings. This gap meant that an individual with a new history of abuse could continue working with vulnerable children undetected until their next scheduled fingerprinting.
AB 741 fixes this problem by requiring the California Department of Justice to immediately notify CASA programs if a current volunteer or staff member appears in the CACI after their background check. This ensures CASA programs can respond quickly, protect children in their care, and prevent further harm.
“Every child in California deserves to feel safe, especially those in foster care. I want to thank Governor Newsom for signing this bill into law and the California CASA Association for their steadfast partnership and advocacy. Together, we are strengthening California’s foster system to make sure every child grows up in a safe and supportive environment.”
-Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom
“We are proud to see this bill signed into law, marking a crucial step toward making our local CASA programs, volunteers, and the children we serve safer than ever. While CASA volunteers and staff have always completed rigorous background checks, this new law streamlines this process and adds an extra layer of protection with continuous monitoring through the Child Abuse Central Index. Together, these steps strengthen protections for children and teens in foster care and represent meaningful progress for everyone working to keep them safe.”
-Sharon Lawrence, CEO of California CASA Association
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