Yes! Every Child is in danger if aB495 passes.
Dear PERK Members,
AB 495, Assembly Member Celeste Rodriguez bill is making national news. Here’s PERK’s analysis and view on the bill. This bill is so dangerously written that it opens the door for child predators, traffickers, and strangers to legally take custody of children without a parent’s knowledge or consent. If passed, this legislation will endanger every child in California. To equip you, we’ve taken screen shots of the actual bill language to prove the problems.
While the stated intent of AB 495 is to help children whose parents are detained or deported by ICE, its actual language creates a loophole big enough for traffickers to walk through. Under this bill, any adult — including total strangers — can fill out a “Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit” with no ID, no background check, no verification, and no notarization. Once completed, that person can:
Remove a child from school.
Change the child’s school enrollment.
Take the child to live with them.
Authorize medical care — including immunizations, dental procedures, and mental health treatment.
Make these decisions without the parent’s knowledge, consent, or presence.
The bill explicitly states there is no obligation to verify the adult’s identity or relationship to the child.
This means anyone can literally check a box and claim “I cannot reach the parent” and legally assume control over a child — even against the parent’s wishes — with no court oversight and no safety checks.
“Signature of the court is not required.”
The harms in AB495 Sec. 4
This is not hypothetical. We know predators seek the easiest path to vulnerable children. With hundreds of thousands of migrant children already missing from federal custody, AB 495 will magnify this crisis — putting immigrant and non-immigrant children alike in immediate danger.
Compounded by recent laws eroding parental rights (SB 1419, AB 5, AB 223, AB 665), AB 495 strips away the most fundamental safeguard — a parent’s right to protect their child from strangers. Records will be sealed from the public, making it nearly impossible to track or recover a child once taken.
No child in California will be safe if AB 495 passes. It impacts public schools, private schools, and homeschoolers. This bill is a predator’s dream and a parent’s worst nightmare. Pastors are already warning families to leave the public schools and the state if this becomes law.
Education Code 234.7 already allows parents to consent to and authorize a long list of authorized emergency contacts in the event of an emergency. AB495 creates loopholes.
Stand with parents and protect all the children!
Sincerely,
Amy Bohn
PERK President
What can you do?
We urge you to tell your Senator to vote NO on AB 495. Protect our children. Close the loopholes. Stand with parents and against trafficking, kidnapping, and exploitation. Resources to help you.
Talking points by Real Impact
Legal analysis by ADF
Template letter by PERK
Pastor Jack Hibbs group called Real Impact has organized a rally day. PERK team and volunteers will be there to support. We encourage all PERK members to attend the rally and lobby day in Sacramento on Tuesday August 19th and show your support.
