(a) (1) A foster family agency shall place a resource family on inactive status upon notification by the resource family in accordance with this section and the written directives or regulations adopted by the department pursuant to Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(2) For purposes of this section, and notwithstanding Section 1517 of this code or Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, “inactive status” means a period of time during which a resource family is not eligible to provide foster care for a child and is not subject to an approval update.

(b) The written directives or regulations adopted by the department pursuant to Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) The method by which a resource family shall notify a foster family agency of the following:

(A) A request to be placed on inactive status.

(B) A request to end inactive status.

(2) The actions to be taken by a foster family agency to end an inactive status.

(3) Any time limitations on inactive status.

(4) The circumstances under which a foster family agency shall conduct inspections of the home of a resource family during a period of inactive status.

(c) Nothing in this section or in Article 2 (commencing with Section 16519.5) of Chapter 5 of Part 4 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code limits the authority of the department to enter and inspect the home of a resource family on inactive status in order to investigate a complaint or incident or to ensure unauthorized care and supervision is not being provided to a child.

(d) A resource family shall maintain all approval standards required by Section 1517 upon ending inactive status.

(e) This section does not limit the authority of the department to institute or continue an administrative action against a resource family or any individual residing or regularly present in the home of a resource family during a period of inactive status.

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 732, Sec. 11. (AB 404) Effective January 1, 2018.)