California Bill Could Empower Child Traffickers, Warns Attorney

Concerns Over California's Family Preparedness Plan Act

• ⚠️ The Family Preparedness Plan Act in California is raising alarms among activists and legal professionals.
• 💡 The bill's stated intent is to ensure continuity of care for minors whose parents face detainment or deportation.
• 🎯 However, critics argue the bill's amendments are not limited to this specific scenario and could be exploited.

Exploitation Risks and Loopholes

• 🚨 The legislation allows non-family members to act as a child's caregiver, enroll them in school, or authorize medical care without parental contact.
• 🧩 The bill expands the definition of a caregiver to any adult with a "familial or mentorship relationship," which is undefined.
• 🚫 This means any adult can self-attest to guardianship via a caregiver's affidavit form, which schools and healthcare providers are entitled to rely on without further inquiry.
• 🔒 Healthcare providers are shielded from liability even if the self-attested caregiver is not safe for the child.

Parental Rights and Safeguards

• 🚫 A significant concern is the caregiver's option to state they were unable to contact the parent, bypassing parental notification and consent.
• ⚖️ The current system, which requires thorough vetting for court-appointed advocates, is contrasted with this bill's lack of background checks or guardrails.
• 🚩 The bill is seen as a dangerous move that could potentially facilitate child exploitation and trafficking by removing parental oversight.