Section 3204 Of Chapter 13. Supervised Visitation And Exchange Services, Education, And Counseling From California Family Law Code >> Division 8. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 13.
3204
. (a) The Judicial Council shall annually submit an application
to the federal Administration for Children and Families, pursuant to
Section 669B of the "1996 Federal Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Recovery Act" (PRWORA), for a grant to fund child custody
and visitation programs pursuant to this chapter.
The Judicial Council shall be charged with the administration of
the grant funds.
(b) (1) It is the intention of the Legislature that, effective
October 1, 2000, the grant funds described in subdivision (a) shall
be used to fund the following three types of programs: supervised
visitation and exchange services, education about protecting children
during family disruption, and group counseling for parents and
children, as set forth in this chapter. Contracts shall follow a
standard request for proposal procedure, that may include multiple
year funding. Requests for proposals shall meet all state and federal
requirements for receiving access and visitation grant funds.
(2) The grant funds shall be awarded with the intent of approving
as many requests for proposals as possible while assuring that each
approved proposal would provide beneficial services and satisfy the
overall goals of the program under this chapter. The Judicial Council
shall determine the final number and amount of grants. Requests for
proposals shall be evaluated based on the following criteria:
(A) Availability of services to a broad population of parties.
(B) The ability to expand existing services.
(C) Coordination with other community services.
(D) The hours of service delivery.
(E) The number of counties or regions participating.
(F) Overall cost-effectiveness.
(G) The purpose of the program to promote and encourage healthy
parent and child relationships between noncustodial parents and their
children, while ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of the
children.
(3) Special consideration for grant funds shall be given to
proposals that coordinate supervised visitation and exchange
services, education, and group counseling with existing court-based
programs and services.
(c) The family law division of the superior court in each county
shall approve sliding scale fees that are based on the ability to pay
for all parties, including low-income families, participating in a
supervised visitation and exchange, education, and group counseling
programs under this chapter.
(d) The Judicial Council shall, on March 1, 2002, and on the first
day of March of each subsequent even-numbered year, report to the
Legislature on the programs funded pursuant to this chapter and
whether and to what extent those programs are achieving the goal of
promoting and encouraging healthy parent and child relationships
between noncustodial or joint custodial parents and their children
while ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of children, and the
other goals described in this chapter.