BILL NUMBER: AB 2483	CHAPTERED  07/16/08

	CHAPTER  132
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 16, 2008
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 16, 2008
	PASSED THE SENATE  JULY 2, 2008
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 5, 2008
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 9, 2008

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bass

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2008

   An act to amend Section 301 of the Welfare and Institutions Code,
relating to juveniles.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2483, Bass. Wards and dependent children: program of
supervision.
   Existing law authorizes certain persons, including social workers,
to file a petition to declare a child a ward or dependent child of
the juvenile court. Existing law provides that, in any case in which
a social worker, after an investigation, determines that a child is
within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court or will probably soon
be within that jurisdiction, the social worker may, in lieu of filing
a petition or after dismissal of a petition already filed, and with
consent of the child's parent or guardian, undertake a program of
supervision of the child.
   This bill would provide that, if the parent is a dependent of the
juvenile court at the time that a social worker seeks to undertake a
program of supervision described above, and if counsel has been
appointed for the parent under specified provisions of law, the
program of supervision shall not be undertaken until the parent has
consulted with his or her counsel.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 301 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   301.  (a) In any case in which a social worker, after
investigation of an application for petition or other investigation
he or she is authorized to make, determines that a child is within
the jurisdiction of the juvenile court or will probably soon be
within that jurisdiction, the social worker may, in lieu of filing a
petition or subsequent to dismissal of a petition already filed, and
with consent of the child's parent or guardian, undertake a program
of supervision of the child. If a program of supervision is
undertaken, the social worker shall attempt to ameliorate the
situation which brings the child within, or creates the probability
that the child will be within, the jurisdiction of Section 300 by
providing or arranging to contract for all appropriate child welfare
services pursuant to Sections 16506 and 16507.3, within the time
periods specified in those sections. No further child welfare
services shall be provided subsequent to these time limits. If the
family has refused to cooperate with the services being provided, the
social worker may file a petition with the juvenile court pursuant
to Section 332. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent
the social worker from filing a petition pursuant to Section 332
when otherwise authorized by law.
   (b) The program of supervision of the child undertaken pursuant to
this section may call for the child to obtain care and treatment for
the misuse of, or addiction to, controlled substances from a county
mental health service or other appropriate community agency.
   (c) If the parent is a dependent of the juvenile court at the time
that a social worker seeks to undertake a program of supervision
pursuant to subdivision (a), including a voluntary family
reunification program or a voluntary family maintenance program, and
if counsel has been appointed for the parent pursuant to subdivision
(c) of Section 317, the program of supervision shall not be
undertaken until the parent has consulted with his or her counsel.