BILL NUMBER: AB 519 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 30, 2005
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Leno
FEBRUARY 16, 2005
An act to amend Section Sections 213.5 and
366.26 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to
children.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 519, as amended, Leno. Parental rights.
Existing law provides that children may become dependent children
of the juvenile court on the basis of abuse or neglect. Existing law
specifies that any order of the court permanently terminating
parental rights is conclusive and binding on the child, subject to
specified notice provisions, and gives the juvenile court no power to
set aside, change, or modify that order, except that the order may
be appealed.
This bill would create an exception to this provision to permit a
dependent child who has not been adopted after the passage of at
least 3 years from termination of parental rights or is no longer
adoptable, as specified, to petition the juvenile court for
reinstatement of parental rights, pursuant to specified procedures.
Existing law permits the juvenile court to issue specified ex
parte orders to protect a dependent child and also permits the court
to issue specified ex parte orders to protect the parent, legal
guardian, or current caretaker of a dependent child.
This bill would make technical changes to that latter provision.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 213.5 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code is amended to read:
213.5. (a) After a petition has been filed pursuant to Section
311 to declare a child a dependent child of the juvenile court, and
until the time that the petition is dismissed or dependency is
terminated, upon application in the manner provided by Section 527 of
the Code of Civil Procedure, the juvenile court may issue ex parte
orders (1) enjoining any person from molesting, attacking, striking,
sexually assaulting, stalking, or battering the child or any other
child in the household; (2) excluding any person from the dwelling of
the person who has care, custody, and control of the child; and (3)
enjoining any person from behavior, including contacting,
threatening, or disturbing the peace of the child, that the court
determines is necessary to effectuate orders under paragraph (1) or
(2). A court issuing may also issue an
ex parte order pursuant to this subdivision may
simultaneously issue an ex parte order enjoining any person
from contacting, threatening, molesting, attacking, striking,
sexually assaulting, stalking, battering, or disturbing the peace of
any parent, legal guardian, or current caretaker of the child,
regardless of whether the child resides with that parent, legal
guardian, or current caretaker, upon application in the manner
provided by Section 527 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(b) After a petition has been filed pursuant to Section 601 or 602
to declare a child a ward of the juvenile court, and until the time
that the petition is dismissed or wardship is terminated, upon
application in the manner provided by Section 527 of the Code of
Civil Procedure, the juvenile court may issue ex parte orders (1)
enjoining any person from molesting, attacking, threatening, sexually
assaulting, stalking, or battering the child or any other child in
the household; (2) excluding any person from the dwelling of the
person who has care, custody, and control of the child; or (3)
enjoining the child from contacting, threatening, stalking, or
disturbing the peace of any person the court finds to be at risk from
the conduct of the child, or with whom association would be
detrimental to the child.
(c) In the case in which a temporary restraining order is granted
without notice, the matter shall be made returnable on an order
requiring cause to be shown why the order should not be granted, on
the earliest day that the business of the court will permit, but not
later than 15 days or, if good cause appears to the court, 20 days
from the date the temporary restraining order is granted. The court
may, on the motion of the person seeking the restraining order, or on
its own motion, shorten the time for service on the person to be
restrained of the order to show cause. The court may, upon its own
motion or the filing of an affidavit by the person seeking the
restraining order, find that the person to be restrained could not be
served within the time required by law and to reissue an order
previously issued and dissolved by the court for failure to serve the
person to be restrained. The reissued order shall state on its face
the date of expiration of the order. Any hearing pursuant to this
section may be held simultaneously with any regularly scheduled
hearings held in proceedings to declare a child a dependent child or
ward of the juvenile court pursuant to Section 300, 601, or 602, or
subsequent hearings regarding the dependent child or ward.
(d) The juvenile court may issue, upon notice and a hearing, any
of the orders set forth in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c). Any
restraining order granted pursuant to this subdivision shall remain
in effect, in the discretion of the court, not to exceed three years,
unless otherwise terminated by the court, extended by mutual consent
of all parties to the restraining order, or extended by further
order of the court on the motion of any party to the restraining
order.
(e) (1) The juvenile court may issue an order made pursuant to
subdivision (a), (c), or (d) excluding a person from a residence or
dwelling. This order may be issued for the time and on the conditions
that the court determines, regardless of which party holds legal or
equitable title or is the lessee of the residence or dwelling.
(2) The court may issue an order under paragraph (1) only on a
showing of all of the following:
(A) Facts sufficient for the court to ascertain that the party who
will stay in the dwelling has a right under color of law to
possession of the premises.
(B) That the party to be excluded has assaulted or threatens to
assault the other party or any other person under the care, custody,
and control of the other party, or any minor child of the parties or
of the other party.
(C) That physical or emotional harm would otherwise result to the
other party, to any person under the care, custody, and control of
the other party, or to any minor child of the parties or of the other
party.
(f) Any order issued pursuant to subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d)
shall state on its face the date of expiration of the order.
(g) The juvenile court shall order any designated person or
attorney to mail a copy of any order, or extension, modification, or
termination thereof, granted pursuant to subdivision (a), (b), (c),
or (d), by the close of the business day on which the order,
extension, modification, or termination was granted, and any
subsequent proof of service thereof, to each local law enforcement
agency designated by the person seeking the restraining order or his
or her attorney having jurisdiction over the residence of the person
who has care, custody, and control of the child and other locations
where the court determines that acts of domestic violence or abuse
against the child or children are likely to occur. Each appropriate
law enforcement agency shall make available through an existing
system for verification, information as to the existence, terms, and
current status of any order issued pursuant to subdivision (a), (b),
(c), or (d) to any law enforcement officer responding to the scene of
reported domestic violence or abuse.
(h) Any willful and knowing violation of any order granted
pursuant to subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d) shall be a misdemeanor
punishable under Section 273.65 of the Penal Code.
(i) A juvenile court restraining order related to domestic
violence issued by a court pursuant to this section shall be issued
on forms adopted by the Judicial Council of California and that have
been approved by the Department of Justice pursuant to subdivision
(i) of Section 6380 of the Family Code. However, the fact that an
order issued by a court pursuant to this section was not issued on
forms adopted by the Judicial Council and approved by the Department
of Justice shall not, in and of itself, make the order unenforceable.
(j) Information on any juvenile court restraining order related to
domestic violence issued by a court pursuant to this section shall
be transmitted to the Department of Justice in accordance with
subdivision (b) of Section 6380 of the Family Code.
(k) (1) Prior to a hearing on the issuance or denial of an order
under this part, a search shall be conducted as described in
subdivision (a) of Section 6306 of the Family Code.
(2) Prior to deciding whether to issue an order under this part,
the court shall consider the following information obtained pursuant
to a search conducted under paragraph (1): any conviction for a
violent felony specified in Section 667.5 of the Penal Code or a
serious felony specified in Section 1192.7 of the Penal Code; any
misdemeanor conviction involving domestic violence, weapons, or other
violence; any outstanding warrant; parole or probation status; any
prior restraining order; and any violation of a prior restraining
order.
(3) (A) If the results of the search conducted pursuant to
paragraph (1) indicate that an outstanding warrant exists against the
subject of the search, the court shall order the clerk of the court
to immediately notify, by the most effective means available,
appropriate law enforcement officials of any information obtained
through the search that the court determines is appropriate. The law
enforcement officials so notified shall take all actions necessary to
execute any outstanding warrants or any other actions, as
appropriate and as soon as practicable.
(B) If the results of the search conducted pursuant to paragraph
(1) indicate that the subject of the search is currently on parole or
probation, the court shall order the clerk of the court to
immediately notify, by the most effective means available, the
appropriate parole or probation officer of any information obtained
through the search that the court determines is appropriate. The
parole or probation officer so notified shall take all actions
necessary to revoke any parole or probation, or any other actions,
with respect to the subject person, as appropriate and as soon as
practicable.
(l) Upon making any order for custody or visitation pursuant to
this section, the court shall follow the procedures specified in
subdivisions (c) and (d) of Section 6323 of the Family Code.
SECTION 1.
SEC. 2. Section 366.26 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code is amended to read:
366.26. (a) This section applies to children who are adjudged
dependent children of the juvenile court pursuant to subdivision (c)
of Section 360. The procedures specified herein are the exclusive
procedures for conducting these hearings; Part 2 (commencing with
Section 3020) of Division 8 of the Family Code is not applicable to
these proceedings. Section 8714.7 of the Family Code is applicable
and available to all dependent children meeting the requirements of
that section, if the postadoption contact agreement has been entered
into voluntarily. For children who are adjudged dependent children of
the juvenile court pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 360, this
section and Sections 8604, 8605, 8606, and 8700 of the Family Code
and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 7660) of Part 3 of Division 12
of the Family Code specify the exclusive procedures for permanently
terminating parental rights with regard to, or establishing legal
guardianship of, the child while the child is a dependent child of
the juvenile court.
(b) At the hearing, that shall be held in juvenile court for all
children who are dependents of the juvenile court, the court, in
order to provide stable, permanent homes for these children, shall
review the report as specified in Section 361.5, 366.21, or 366.22,
shall indicate that the court has read and considered it, shall
receive other evidence that the parties may present, and then shall
make findings and orders in the following order of preference:
(1) Terminate the rights of the parent or parents and order that
the child be placed for adoption and, upon the filing of a petition
for adoption in the juvenile court, order that a hearing be set. The
court shall proceed with the adoption after the appellate rights of
the natural parents have been exhausted.
(2) On making a finding under paragraph (3) of subdivision (c),
identify adoption as the permanent placement goal and order that
efforts be made to locate an appropriate adoptive family for the
child within a period not to exceed 180 days.
(3) Appoint a legal guardian for the child and order that letters
of guardianship issue.
(4) Order that the child be placed in long-term foster care,
subject to the periodic review of the juvenile court under Section
366.3.
In choosing among the above alternatives the court shall proceed
pursuant to subdivision (c).
(c) (1) If the court determines, based on the assessment provided
as ordered under subdivision (i) of Section 366.21 or subdivision (b)
of Section 366.22, and any other relevant evidence, by a clear and
convincing standard, that it is likely the child will be adopted, the
court shall terminate parental rights and order the child placed for
adoption. The fact that the child is not yet placed in a preadoptive
home nor with a relative or foster family who is prepared to adopt
the child, shall not constitute a basis for the court to conclude
that it is not likely the child will be adopted. A finding under
subdivision (b) or paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) of Section 361.5
that reunification services shall not be offered, under subdivision
(e) of Section 366.21 that the whereabouts of a parent have been
unknown for six months or that the parent has failed to visit or
contact the child for six months or that the parent has been
convicted of a felony indicating parental unfitness, or, under
Section 366.21 or 366.22, that the court has continued to remove the
child from the custody of the parent or guardian and has terminated
reunification services, shall constitute a sufficient basis for
termination of parental rights unless the court finds a compelling
reason for determining that termination would be detrimental to the
child due to one or more of the following circumstances:
(A) The parents or guardians have maintained regular visitation
and contact with the child and the child would benefit from
continuing the relationship.
(B) A child 12 years of age or older objects to termination of
parental rights.
(C) The child is placed in a residential treatment facility,
adoption is unlikely or undesirable, and continuation of parental
rights will not prevent finding the child a permanent family
placement if the parents cannot resume custody when residential care
is no longer needed.
(D) The child is living with a relative or foster parent who is
unable or unwilling to adopt the child because of exceptional
circumstances, that do not include an unwillingness to accept legal
or financial responsibility for the child, but who is willing and
capable of providing the child with a stable and permanent
environment and the removal of the child from the physical custody of
his or her relative or foster parent would be detrimental to the
emotional well-being of the child. This subparagraph does not apply
to any child who is living with a nonrelative and who is either (i)
under six years of age or (ii) a member of a sibling group where at
least one child is under six years of age and the siblings are, or
should be, permanently placed together.
(E) There would be substantial interference with a child's sibling
relationship, taking into consideration the nature and extent of the
relationship, including, but not limited to, whether the child was
raised with a sibling in the same home, whether the child shared
significant common experiences or has existing close and strong bonds
with a sibling, and whether ongoing contact is in the child's best
interest, including the child's long-term emotional interest, as
compared to the benefit of legal permanence through adoption.
If the court finds that termination of parental rights would be
detrimental to the child pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D),
or (E), it shall state its reasons in writing or on the record.
(2) The court shall not terminate parental rights if at each and
every hearing at which the court was required to consider reasonable
efforts or services, the court has found that reasonable efforts were
not made or that reasonable services were not offered or provided.
(3) If the court finds that termination of parental rights would
not be detrimental to the child pursuant to paragraph (1) and that
the child has a probability for adoption but is difficult to place
for adoption and there is no identified or available prospective
adoptive parent, the court may identify adoption as the permanent
placement goal and without terminating parental rights, order that
efforts be made to locate an appropriate adoptive family for the
child within a period not to exceed 180 days. During this 180-day
period, the public agency responsible for seeking adoptive parents
for each child shall, to the extent possible, ask each child who is
10 years of age or older who is placed in a group home for six months
or longer from the date the child entered foster care, to identify
any individuals, other than the child's siblings, who are important
to the child, in order to identify potential adoptive parents. The
public agency may ask any other child to provide that information, as
appropriate. During the 180-day period, the public agency shall, to
the extent possible, contact other private and public adoption
agencies regarding the availability of the child for adoption. During
the 180-day period, the public agency shall conduct the search for
adoptive parents in the same manner as prescribed for children in
Sections 8708 and 8709 of the Family Code. At the expiration of this
period, another hearing shall be held and the court shall proceed
pursuant to paragraph (1) or (3) of subdivision (b). For purposes of
this section, a child may only be found to be difficult to place for
adoption if there is no identified or available prospective adoptive
parent for the child because of the child's membership in a sibling
group, or the presence of a diagnosed medical, physical, or mental
handicap, or the child is the age of seven years or more.
(4) (A) If the court finds that adoption of the child or
termination of parental rights is not in the best interest of the
child, because one of the conditions in subparagraph (A), (B), (C),
(D), or (E) of paragraph (1) or in paragraph (2) applies, the court
shall either order that the present caretakers or other appropriate
persons shall become legal guardians of the child or order that the
child remain in long-term foster care. Legal guardianship shall be
considered before long-term foster care, if it is in the best
interests of the child and if a suitable guardian can be found. A
child who is 10 years of age or older who is placed in a group home
for six months or longer from the date the child entered foster care,
shall be asked to identify any individuals, other than the child's
siblings, who are important to the child, in order to identify
potential guardians. The agency may ask any other child to provide
that information, as appropriate.
(B) If the child is living with a relative or a foster parent who
is willing and capable of providing a stable and permanent
environment, but not willing to become a legal guardian, the child
shall not be removed from the home if the court finds the removal
would be seriously detrimental to the emotional well-being of the
child because the child has substantial psychological ties to the
relative caretaker or foster parents.
(C) The court shall also make an order for visitation with the
parents or guardians unless the court finds by a preponderance of the
evidence that the visitation would be detrimental to the physical or
emotional well-being of the child.
(5) If the court finds that the child should not be placed for
adoption, that legal guardianship shall not be established, and that
there are no suitable foster parents except exclusive-use homes
available to provide the child with a stable and permanent
environment, the court may order the care, custody, and control of
the child transferred from the county welfare department to a
licensed foster family agency. The court shall consider the written
recommendation of the county welfare director regarding the
suitability of the transfer. The transfer shall be subject to further
court orders.
The licensed foster family agency shall place the child in a
suitable licensed or exclusive-use home that has been certified by
the agency as meeting licensing standards. The licensed foster family
agency shall be responsible for supporting the child and providing
appropriate services to the child, including those services ordered
by the court. Responsibility for the support of the child shall not,
in and of itself, create liability on the part of the foster family
agency to third persons injured by the child. Those children whose
care, custody, and control are transferred to a foster family agency
shall not be eligible for foster care maintenance payments or child
welfare services, except for emergency response services pursuant to
Section 16504.
(d) The proceeding for the appointment of a guardian for a child
who is a dependent of the juvenile court shall be in the juvenile
court. If the court finds pursuant to this section that legal
guardianship is the appropriate permanent plan, it shall appoint the
legal guardian and issue letters of guardianship. The assessment
prepared pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 361.5, subdivision
(i) of Section 366.21, and subdivision (b) of Section 366.22 shall be
read and considered by the court prior to the appointment, and this
shall be reflected in the minutes of the court. The person preparing
the assessment may be called and examined by any party to the
proceeding.
(e) The proceeding for the adoption of a child who is a dependent
of the juvenile court shall be in the juvenile court if the court
finds pursuant to this section that adoption is the appropriate
permanent plan and the petition for adoption is filed in the juvenile
court. Upon the filing of a petition for adoption, the juvenile
court shall order that an adoption hearing be set. The court shall
proceed with the adoption after the appellate rights of the natural
parents have been exhausted. The full report required by Section 8715
of the Family Code shall be read and considered by the court prior
to the adoption and this shall be reflected in the minutes of the
court. The person preparing the report may be called and examined by
any party to the proceeding. It is the intent of the Legislature,
pursuant to this subdivision, to give potential adoptive parents the
option of filing in the juvenile court the petition for the adoption
of a child who is a dependent of the juvenile court. Nothing in this
section is intended to prevent the filing of a petition for adoption
in any other court as permitted by law, instead of in the juvenile
court.
(f) At the beginning of any proceeding pursuant to this section,
if the child or the parents are not being represented by previously
retained or appointed counsel, the court shall proceed as follows:
(1) In accordance with subdivision (c) of Section 317, if a child
before the court is without counsel, the court shall appoint counsel
unless the court finds that the child would not benefit from the
appointment of counsel. The court shall state on the record its
reasons for that finding.
(2) If a parent appears without counsel and is unable to afford
counsel, the court shall appoint counsel for the parent, unless this
representation is knowingly and intelligently waived. The same
counsel shall not be appointed to represent both the child and his or
her parent. The public defender or private counsel may be appointed
as counsel for the parent.
(3) Private counsel appointed under this section shall receive a
reasonable sum for compensation and expenses, the amount of which
shall be determined by the court. The amount shall be paid by the
real parties in interest, other than the child, in any proportions
the court deems just. However, if the court finds that any of the
real parties in interest are unable to afford counsel, the amount
shall be paid out of the general fund of the county.
(g) The court may continue the proceeding for not to exceed 30
days as necessary to appoint counsel, and to enable counsel to become
acquainted with the case.
(h) (1) At all proceedings under this section, the court shall
consider the wishes of the child and shall act in the best interests
of the child.
(2) In accordance with Section 349, the child shall be present in
court if the child or the child's counsel so requests or the court so
orders. If the child is 10 years of age or older and is not present
at a hearing held pursuant to this section, the court shall determine
whether the minor was properly notified of his or her right to
attend the hearing and inquire as to the reason why the child is not
present.
(3) (A) The testimony of the child may be taken in chambers and
outside the presence of the child's parent or parents, if the child's
parent or parents are represented by counsel, the counsel is
present, and any of the following circumstances exist:
(i) The court determines that testimony in chambers is necessary
to ensure truthful testimony.
(ii) The child is likely to be intimidated by a formal courtroom
setting.
(iii) The child is afraid to testify in front of his or her parent
or parents.
(B) After testimony in chambers, the parent or parents of the
child may elect to have the court reporter read back the testimony or
have the testimony summarized by counsel for the parent or parents.
(C) The testimony of a child also may be taken in chambers and
outside the presence of the guardian or guardians of a child under
the circumstances specified in this subdivision.
(i) (1) Any order of the court permanently terminating parental
rights under this section shall be conclusive and binding upon the
child, upon the parent or parents and upon all other persons who have
been served with citation by publication or otherwise as provided in
this chapter. After making the order, the juvenile court shall have
no power to set aside, change, or modify it, except as provided in
paragraph (2), but nothing in this section shall be construed to
limit the right to appeal the order.
(2) A dependent child who has not been adopted after the passage
of at least three years from the date the court terminated parental
rights may petition the juvenile court to reinstate parental rights
pursuant to the procedure prescribed by Section 388. The child may
file the petition prior to the expiration of this three-year period
if all parties stipulate that the child is no longer adoptable. If it
appears that the best interests of the child may be promoted by
reinstatement of parental rights, the court shall order that a
hearing be held and shall give prior notice, or cause prior notice to
be given, to the social worker or probation officer and to the child'
s attorney of record, or, if there is no attorney of record for the
child, to the child and to his or her former parent or parents whose
parental rights were terminated and the child's tribe, if applicable,
by means prescribed by Section 388 unless a different manner is
prescribed by the court. The juvenile court shall grant the petition
if it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the child is no
longer likely to be adopted and that reinstatement of parental rights
is in the child's best interest.
(j) If the
court, by order or judgment, declares the child free from the custody
and control of both parents, or one parent if the other does not
have custody and control, the court shall at the same time order the
child referred to the State Department of Social Services or a
licensed adoption agency for adoptive placement by the agency.
However, a petition for adoption may not be granted until the
appellate rights of the natural parents have been exhausted. The
State Department of Social Services or licensed adoption agency shall
be responsible for the custody and supervision of the child and
shall be entitled to the exclusive care and control of the child at
all times until a petition for adoption is granted. With the consent
of the agency, the court may appoint a guardian of the child, who
shall serve until the child is adopted.
(k) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the application of
any person who, as a relative caretaker or foster parent, has cared
for a dependent child for whom the court has approved a permanent
plan for adoption, or who has been freed for adoption, shall be given
preference with respect to that child over all other applications
for adoptive placement if the agency making the placement determines
that the child has substantial emotional ties to the relative
caretaker or foster parent and removal from the relative caretaker or
foster parent would be seriously detrimental to the child's
emotional well-being.
As used in this subdivision, "preference" means that the
application shall be processed and, if satisfactory, the family study
shall be completed before the processing of the application of any
other person for the adoptive placement of the child.
(l) (1) An order by the court that a hearing pursuant to this
section be held is not appealable at any time unless all of the
following applies:
(A) A petition for extraordinary writ review was filed in a timely
manner.
(B) The petition substantively addressed the specific issues to be
challenged and supported that challenge by an adequate record.
(C) The petition for extraordinary writ review was summarily
denied or otherwise not decided on the merits.
(2) Failure to file a petition for extraordinary writ review
within the period specified by rule, to substantively address the
specific issues challenged, or to support that challenge by an
adequate record shall preclude subsequent review by appeal of the
findings and orders made pursuant to this section.
(3) The Judicial Council shall adopt rules of court, effective
January 1, 1995, to ensure all of the following:
(A) A trial court, after issuance of an order directing a hearing
pursuant to this section be held, shall advise all parties of the
requirement of filing a petition for extraordinary writ review as set
forth in this subdivision in order to preserve any right to appeal
in these issues. This notice shall be made orally to a party if the
party is present at the time of the making of the order or by
first-class mail by the clerk of the court to the last known address
of a party not present at the time of the making of the order.
(B) The prompt transmittal of the records from the trial court to
the appellate court.
(C) That adequate time requirements for counsel and court
personnel exist to implement the objective of this subdivision.
(D) That the parent or guardian, or their trial counsel or other
counsel, is charged with the responsibility of filing a petition for
extraordinary writ relief pursuant to this subdivision.
(4) The intent of this subdivision is to do both of the following:
(A) Make every reasonable attempt to achieve a substantive and
meritorious review by the appellate court within the time specified
in Sections 366.21 and 366.22 for holding a hearing pursuant to this
section.
(B) Encourage the appellate court to determine all writ petitions
filed pursuant to this subdivision on their merits.
(5) This subdivision shall only apply to cases in which an order
to set a hearing pursuant to this section is issued on or after
January 1, 1995.
(m) Except for subdivision (j), this section shall also apply to
minors adjudged wards pursuant to Section 727.31.