Legislature Sends Foster Child, Immigrant Protections To Governor

The California Legislature has approved bills that would protect foster kids from parents who sexually trafficked them and block courts from considering the immigration status of plaintiffs in personal injury or wrongful death claims.

 

Those were two of dozens of measures that lawmakers debated Monday on their first day back from summer recess.

 

Currently, state law blocks reunification when a foster child was physically or sexually abused by a parent. Democratic Asm. Mark Stone says his bill would prevent a foster child “from being reunited with a parent who was involved in trafficking that child.”

Stone's measure passed the Assembly without opposition and now moves to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk.

Also advancing to the governor is a bill that would block courts from considering the immigration status of plaintiffs in personal injury or wrongful death claims.

In presenting the bill, Democratic Sen. Isadore Hall said it would “ensure fair and just compensation for every Californian – regardless of his or her immigration status.“

Under a 1986 court ruling, plaintiffs in civil cases who are living in California illegally have only been able to recover the money they would earn – or the medical costs they would pay – in their country of origin.

The measure passed the Senate on a mostly party-line vote, with two Republicans joining Democrats in support.