Calif. Governor Signs Bill Requiring Background Checks for Professional Visitation Monitors
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1165 into law, which is sponsored by children's advocacy nonprofit, Change for Justice. The new law requires professional visitation monitors to have background checks and enhanced in-person training.
"Currently, while statutory training and qualification requirements exist, there is no way for a parent to verify whether the requisite training was actually done and the qualifications have been met. The only verification required is that the monitor must fill out a declaration under penalty of perjury that they have undergone training and, for example, have not been convicted of child molestation, child abuse or other crimes," says the Change for Justice blog.
According to a press release, AB 1165 allows parents to know if their professional monitor passed a background check and is registered as a trustline provider; monitors must also have enhanced training that includes a standardized online course in child abuse reporting that is required for other mandated reporters. The law goes into effect January 1, 2021.
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