Clinton-era echoes that fuel parental-rights concerns
Opponents also hear faint but familiar footsteps from the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997, signed by former President Bill Clinton, which tied federal policy to faster “permanency” timelines and required states to initiate termination of parental rights when a child is in care for 15 of 22 months, with limited exceptions. Decades of scholarship and advocacy have criticized how ASFA accelerated family separations. Although AB 495 does notterminate rights, critics see it as another step in the long trend of expanding state-sanctioned pathways that sideline parents under the banner of administrative efficiency and child “stability.” Child Welfare Information Gateway National Council For Adoption affcny.org
What supporters say
Children’s-rights organizations backing AB 495 maintain the measure does not transfer custody, only clarifies consent so schools and providers will honor caregiver forms consistently. They argue kids inevitably interact with mandated reporters in schools and clinics, preserving a safety net against abuse, and they frame joint guardianship as a parent-driven tool to reduce chaos if a parent is detained, deported or hospitalized. The bill’s author, Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez, has highlighted the goal of keeping children stable and parents engaged in decision-making during short-term crises. Alliance for Children’s Rights Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez
