(a) Foster family agencies shall not use foster family homes licensed by a county or resource families approved by a county without the approval of the licensing or approving county. When approval is granted, a written agreement between the foster family agency and the county shall specify the nature of administrative control and case management responsibility and the nature and number of the children to be served in the home.

(b) Before a foster family agency may use a licensed foster family home it shall review and, with the exception of a new fingerprint clearance, qualify the home in accordance with Section 1506.

(c) When approval is granted pursuant to subdivision (a), and for the duration of the agreement permitting the foster family agency use of the licensed foster family home or county-approved resource family, no child shall be placed in that home except through the foster family agency.

(d) Nothing in this section shall transfer or eliminate the responsibility of the placing agency for the care, custody, or control of the child. Nothing in this section shall relieve a foster family agency of its responsibilities for or on behalf of a child placed with it.

(e) (1) If an application to a foster family agency for a certificate of approval indicates, or the department determines during the application review process, that the applicant previously was issued a license under this chapter or under Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1200), Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1250), Chapter 3.01 (commencing with Section 1568.01), Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 1569), Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 1596.70), Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 1596.90), or Chapter 3.6 (commencing with Section 1597.30) and the prior license was revoked within the preceding two years, the foster family agency shall cease any further review of the application until two years have elapsed from the date of the revocation.

(2) If an application to a foster family agency for a certificate of approval indicates, or the department determines during the application review process, that the applicant previously was issued a certificate of approval by a foster family agency that was revoked by the department pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1534 within the preceding two years, the foster family agency shall cease any further review of the application until two years have elapsed from the date of the revocation.

(3) If an application to a foster family agency for a certificate of approval indicates, or the department determines during the application review process, that the applicant was excluded from a facility licensed by the department or from a certified family home pursuant to Section 1558, 1568.092, 1569.58, or 1596.8897, the foster family agency shall cease any further review of the application unless the excluded person has been reinstated pursuant to Section 11522 of the Government Code by the department.

(4) The cessation of review shall not constitute a denial of the application for purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 1534 or any other law.

(f) (1) If an application to a foster family agency for a certificate of approval indicates, or the department determines during the application review process, that the applicant had previously applied for a license under any of the chapters listed in paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) and the application was denied within the last year, the foster family agency shall cease further review of the application as follows:

(A) When the applicant petitioned for a hearing, the foster family agency shall cease further review of the application until one year has elapsed from the effective date of the decision and order of the department upholding a denial.

(B) When the department informed the applicant of his or her right to petition for a hearing and the applicant did not petition for a hearing, the foster family agency shall cease further review of the application until one year has elapsed from the date of the notification of the denial and the right to petition for a hearing.

(2) The foster family agency may continue to review the application if the department has determined that the reasons for the denial of the application were due to circumstances and a condition that either have been corrected or are no longer in existence.

(3) The cessation of review shall not constitute a denial of the application for purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 1534 or any other law.

(g) (1) If an application to a foster family agency for a certificate of approval indicates, or the department determines during the application review process, that the applicant had previously applied for a certificate of approval with a foster family agency and the department ordered the foster family agency to deny the application pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1534, the foster family agency shall cease further review of the application as follows:

(A) In cases where the applicant petitioned for a hearing, the foster family agency shall cease further review of the application until one year has elapsed from the effective date of the decision and order of the department upholding a denial.

(B) In cases where the department informed the applicant of his or her right to petition for a hearing and the applicant did not petition for a hearing, the foster family agency shall cease further review of the application until one year has elapsed from the date of the notification of the denial and the right to petition for a hearing.

(2) The foster family agency may continue to review the application if the department has determined that the reasons for the denial of the application were due to circumstances and conditions that either have been corrected or are no longer in existence.

(3) The cessation of review shall not constitute a denial of the application for purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 1534 or any other law.

(h) Subdivisions (e), (f), and (g) shall apply only to certified family home applications received on or before December 31, 2016, in accordance with Section 1517.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 612, Sec. 20. (AB 1997) Effective January 1, 2017.)