AB 495, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, would create a joint guardianship process allowing parents facing long-term separation to designate a joint guardian while preserving parental rights upon return. The bill would expand authorization to any adult with an established familial or mentoring relationship, and would permit temporary decision-making when a designee checks that they are "unable to contact the parent(s) or other person(s) having legal custody." Hundreds of people protested at the state capitol opposing the expansion. Critics warn the measure lacks verification, parental consent safeguards, and could allow strangers to assume authority and make major welfare and medical decisions.
'The Family Preparedness Plan Act' creates a new joint guardianship process allowing parents facing any long-term separation to designate a joint guardian while preserving their parental rights upon their return," said the author of AB 495, Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez.
It does not just pertain to children who are here with undocumented parents that have been detained. Instead, it applies to all children, in any circumstance, where a complete stranger can simply claim authority over a child, and then start making all sorts of decisions for the child's welfare, for health treatment. This is just insane," said Assemblymember Carl DeMaio.
"unable to contact the parent(s) or other person(s) having legal custody of the minor at this time, to notify them of my intended authorization"
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