CaliforniaImmigration: immigrant youth: access to legal counsel.
What it does
Existing law, subject to available funding, requires the State Department of Social Services to contract with qualified nonprofit legal services organizations to provide legal services to unaccompanied undocumented minors who are transferred to the care and custody of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement and who are present in this state or are residing with a family member or other sponsor. Existing law requires contracts awarded pursuant to the above-described provision to be executed with qualified nonprofit legal services organizations that meet certain requirements, including having experience representing individuals in removal proceedings and asylum applications.
More detail
This bill would, subject to available funding, provide legal counsel to immigrant youth in the State of California. The bill would define immigrant youth. The bill would require the department to allocate funding for these purposes, and would require the department to consider whether federal funding has been made available and dispersed to organizations or relevant projects in the state in determining the amount and allocation of contracts awarded. The bill would require the department to contract with qualified nonprofit legal services organizations that meet the above-described requirements or an office of the public defender that meets certain requirements. The bill would also authorize the department to fund social work services contracted by qualified nonprofit legal services organizations to assist immigrant youth.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Oct 12Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 665, Statutes of 2025.Latest
- Oct 12Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 22Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Sep 11
- Vote recorded AB 1261 Bonta Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Sep 10Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 63. Noes 10. Page 3203.).Major
- Sep 9In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1261 Bonta et al. By Arreguín. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 9Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 8. Page 2738.).Passed Senate
- Sep 8Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Sep 5Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 29Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 29From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).Minor
- Aug 18In committee: Referred to suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 8From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (July 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jul 7
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 2From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HUMAN S. (Ayes 12. Noes 1.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S.Minor
- Jul 1
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 18Referred to Coms. on JUD. and HUMAN S.Minor
- Jun 4In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Jun 3Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 63. Noes 8. Page 1991.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 1261 Bonta Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 27Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 23From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (May 23).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 23Coauthors revised.
- May 7In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 24Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 23Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 22From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 2.) (April 22).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 1In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
- Mar 25Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Mar 24From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 24Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Feb 24Read first time.Minor
- Feb 22From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
- Feb 21Introduced. To print.Introduced