SACRAMENTO, CA — Senator Melissa Hurtado (D- Bakersfield) today advanced Senate Bill 557, legislation that updates California’s definition of Family Resource Centers to reflect current best practices and align state law with recent federal action.

Family Resource Centers serve as trusted, community-based hubs that provide low- or no-cost, multigenerational support to families. These centers help parents and caregivers access guidance, build peer connections, and reduce isolation before challenges escalate into crisis.

“Family Resource Centers are often where families turn when they feel overwhelmed or unsure where to go,” said Senator Hurtado. “Combatting child abuse and neglect requires coordination between state and federal government that Senate Bill 557 delivers. By cutting red tape, we can better focus on helping families continue accessing critical resources when they need it most.”

The bill builds on Senate Bill 436 (2019), also authored by Senator Hurtado, which helped strengthen the state’s child abuse prevention framework and supported the delivery of $13 million in COVID-19 relief funds to Family Resource Centers serving more than 100,000 families statewide.

Senate Bill 557 does not create new programs or mandates. Instead, it clarifies statute to reflect prevention-focused, family-centered services already provided on the ground, while positioning California to remain eligible for long-term federal funding.

Senator Melissa Hurtado is Chair of Senate Budget Subcommittee #4 on State Administration and General Government and currently represents the 16th Senate District in the California Legislature, which includes portions of Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern Counties.

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