Child welfare: transport escort services.

(1) Existing law prohibits a transport escort service from accompanying or transporting a minor to any residential facility or institution located outside the state, unless the person or persons transporting or accompanying the minor are trustline-registered childcare providers. Existing law also requires every transport escort service that accompanies or transports a minor who is a resident of California to any residential facility or institution located outside the state to first provide the minor's parents, custodial parent, or legal guardian with specified information, including, among others things, a description of the childcare provider trustline registry. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions a misdemeanor. This bill, the Safe Passage for Youth Act, would expand those provisions relating to transport escort services to apply when accompanying or transporting a minor, without regard to whether the destination is an out-of-state residential facility or institution. The bill would revise the definition of a "transport escort service" and also make these provisions inapplicable to the transport of minors by an individual providing private childcare, casual babysitting, or domestic nanny services, if certain conditions are met. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also impose various additional requirements and restrictions on transport escort services, including, among other things, a requirement that they maintain written policies governing the safety and welfare of minors and a prohibition on using behavioral restraints unless it is necessary to prevent imminent, serious physical harm and less restrictive alternatives are not available. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to bring an action in superior court to enforce these provisions if a transport escort service engages in repeated or egregious violations of any of the above provisions. (2) The Passenger Charter-pa