Fact Sheet: SB 624 (Caballero), the FOSTER Act

SB 624, the FOSTER Act, was introduced by Senator Anna Caballero to reduce poverty among current and former foster youth by increasing access to the California Foster Youth Tax Credit (FYTC). SB 624 aims to institutionalize education and outreach about the FYTC and tax filing within county child welfare agencies and juvenile probation departments. SB 624 has two provisions:

1.  Requires the California Department of Social Services to issue guidance to county child welfare agencies and juvenile probation departments on best practices for encouraging nonminor dependents and former foster youth to file taxes and access the FYTC. The guidance will be updated as needed and re-issued no less than every two years thereafter. 
   
   
2. Requires county child welfare agencies and juvenile probation departments to mail information to all nonminor dependents about filing state and federal income tax returns and the FYTC. The mailing will occur annually between November 1 and January 31.