If the director believes that a county probation department is substantially failing to comply with any provision of this code or any regulation pertaining to the placement activities required to be performed by the probation department to ensure that the needs of wards in placements whose board and care is funded through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care program are met, and the director determines that formal action may be necessary to secure compliance, he or she shall inform the chief probation officer, the presiding judge of the juvenile court, and the board of supervisors of that failure. The notice to the chief probation officer, the presiding judge of the juvenile court, and board of supervisors shall be in writing and shall allow the county probation department a specified period of time, not less than 30 days, to correct its failure to comply with the law or regulations. If within the specified period the county probation department does not comply or provide reasonable assurances in writing that it will comply within the additional time as the director may allow, the director may take one or both of the following actions:

(a) Bring an action for injunctive relief to secure immediate compliance.

Any county probation department that is found to be failing in a substantial manner to comply with the law or regulations pertaining to placement activities required to be performed by the probation department to ensure that the needs of wards in placement whose board and care is funded through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care program are met, may be enjoined by any court of competent jurisdiction. The court may make orders or judgments as may be necessary to secure county probation department compliance.

(b) Order the county probation department to appear at a hearing before the director to show cause why the director should not take administrative action to secure compliance. The hearing shall be conducted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the department.

If the director determines, based on the record established at the hearing, that the county probation department is failing to comply with the provisions of this code or the regulations pertaining to the placement activities required to be performed by the probation department to ensure that the needs of wards in placement funded through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care program are met, or if the State Personnel Board certifies to the director that a county probation department is not in conformity with established merit system standards under Part 2.5 (commencing with Section 19800) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and that administrative sanctions are necessary to secure compliance, the director may invoke either of the following sanctions:

(1) Withhold all or part of state and federal funds from the county probation department until the county probation department demonstrates to the director that it has complied.

(2) Assume, temporarily, direct responsibility for fulfilling the placement activities required by law and regulations to ensure that the needs of the wards in placement funded through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care program are met, until the time as the county probation department provides reasonable assurances to the director of its intention and ability to comply. During the period of direct state administrative responsibility, the director or his or her authorized representative shall have all of the powers and responsibilities of the chief probation officer with regard to placement requirements for wards whose board and care is funded through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care program, except that he or she shall not be subject to the authority of the board of supervisors.

In the event that the director invokes sanctions pursuant to this section, the county probation department shall be responsible for providing any funds as may be necessary for the continued fulfillment of placement activities as required by law and regulation for the placement of wards whose board and care is funded through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care program administered on behalf of the department in the county probation department. If a county probation department fails or refuses to provide these funds, including a sufficient amount to reimburse any and all costs incurred by the department in performing the activities required for the placement of wards whose board and care is funded through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care program in the county probation department, the Controller may deduct an amount certified by the director as necessary for the continued operation of these programs by the department from any state or federal funds payable to the county probation department for any purpose.

Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a county probation department from seeking judicial review under Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure of any final decision of the director made after a hearing conducted under this section. This review shall be the exclusive remedy available to the county probation department for review of the director’s decision.

Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing the director from bringing an action for writ of mandamus or any other action in court as may be appropriate to ensure that there is no interruption in the provision of benefits to any person eligible therefor under the provisions of this code or the regulations of the department.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 728, Sec. 191. (SB 71) Effective January 1, 2013.)