California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1688

Introduced by Assembly Member Rodriguez

January 21, 2016

An act to amend Section 361.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to juveniles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1688, as introduced, Rodriguez. Dependent children: out-of-county placement: notice.

Existing law prohibits a social worker, when he or she must place a dependent child outside the county, from making the placement until he or she has served written notice on the parent or guardian at least 14 days prior to the placement, except as specified. Existing law authorizes the parent or guardian to object to the placement.

This bill would require that the notice also be served on the child’s attorney and, if the child is 10 years of age or older, on the child, and would authorize the child to object to the placement. By imposing additional duties on county social workers, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 361.2 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, as added by Section 48 of Chapter 773 of the Statutes of
2015, is amended to read:

361.2.  

(a) When a court orders removal of a child pursuant to
Section 361, the court shall first determine whether there is a parent
of the child, with whom the child was not residing at the time that
the events or conditions arose that brought the child within the
provisions of Section 300, who desires to assume custody of the
child. If that parent requests custody, the court shall place the child
with the parent unless it finds that placement with that parent would
be detrimental to the safety, protection, or physical or emotional
well-being of the child. The fact that the parent is enrolled in a
certified substance abuse treatment facility that allows a dependent
child to reside with his or her parent shall not be, for that reason
alone, prima facie evidence that placement with that parent would
be detrimental.

(b) If the court places the child with that parent it may do any
of the following:

(1) Order that the parent become legal and physical custodian
of the child. The court may also provide reasonable visitation by
the noncustodial parent. The court shall then terminate its
jurisdiction over the child. The custody order shall continue unless
modified by a subsequent order of the superior court. The order
of the juvenile court shall be filed in any domestic relation
proceeding between the parents.

(2) Order that the parent assume custody subject to the
jurisdiction of the juvenile court and require that a home visit be
conducted within three months. In determining whether to take
the action described in this paragraph, the court shall consider any
concerns that have been raised by the child’s current caregiver
regarding the parent. After the social worker conducts the home
visit and files his or her report with the court, the court may then
take the action described in paragraph (1), (3), or this paragraph.
However, nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted to imply
that the court is required to take the action described in this
paragraph as a prerequisite to the court taking the action described
in either paragraph (1) or (3).

(3) Order that the parent assume custody subject to the
supervision of the juvenile court. In that case the court may order
that reunification services be provided to the parent or guardian
from whom the child is being removed, or the court may order that
services be provided solely to the parent who is assuming physical
custody in order to allow that parent to retain later custody without
court supervision, or that services be provided to both parents, in
which case the court shall determine, at review hearings held
pursuant to Section 366, which parent, if either, shall have custody
of the child.

(c) The court shall make a finding either in writing or on the
record of the basis for its determination under subdivisions (a) and
(b).

(d) Part 6 (commencing with Section 7950) of Division 12 of
the Family Code shall apply to the placement of a child pursuant
to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (e).

(e) When the court orders removal pursuant to Section 361, the
court shall order the care, custody, control, and conduct of the
child to be under the supervision of the social worker who may
place the child in any of the following:

(1) The home of a noncustodial parent as described in
subdivision (a), regardless of the parent’s immigration status.

(2) The approved home of a relative, regardless of the relative’s
immigration status.

(3) The approved home of a nonrelative extended family
member as defined in Section 362.7.

(4) The approved home of a resource family as defined in
Section 16519.5.

(5) A foster home considering first a foster home in which the
child has been placed before an interruption in foster care, if that
placement is in the best interest of the child and space is available.

(6) A home or facility in accordance with the federal Indian
Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.).

(7) A suitable licensed community care facility, except a
runaway and homeless youth shelter licensed by the State
Department of Social Services pursuant to Section 1502.35 of the
Health and Safety Code.

(8) With a foster family agency, as defined in subdivision (g)
of Section 11400 and paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section
1502 of the Health and Safety Code, to be placed in a suitable
family home certified or approved by the agency.

(9) A child of any age who is placed in a community care facility
licensed as a group home for children or a short-term residential
treatment center, as defined in subdivision (ad) of Section 11400
and paragraph (18) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health
and Safety Code, shall have a case plan that indicates that
placement is for purposes of providing short term, specialized, and
intensive treatment for the child, the case plan specifies the need
for, nature of, and anticipated duration of this treatment, pursuant
to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 16501.1, and the
case plan includes transitioning the child to a less restrictive
environment and the projected timeline by which the child will be
transitioned to a less restrictive environment. If the placement is
longer than six months, the placement shall be documented
consistent with paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 16501.1
and shall be approved by the deputy director or director of the
county child welfare department.

(A) A child under six years of age shall not be placed in a
community care facility licensed as a group home for children, or
a short-term residential treatment center, except under the following
circumstances:

(i) When the facility meets the applicable regulations adopted
under Section 1530.8 of the Health and Safety Code and standards
developed pursuant to Section 11467.1 of this code, and the deputy
director or director of the county child welfare department has
approved the case plan.

(ii) The short term, specialized, and intensive treatment period
shall not exceed 120 days, unless the county has made progress
toward or is actively working toward implementing the case plan
that identifies the services or supports necessary to transition the
child to a family setting, circumstances beyond the county’s control
have prevented the county from obtaining those services or
supports within the timeline documented in the case plan, and the
need for additional time pursuant to the case plan is documented
by the caseworker and approved by a deputy director or director
of the county child welfare department.

(iii) To the extent that placements pursuant to this paragraph
are extended beyond an initial 120 days, the requirements of
clauses (i) and (ii) shall apply to each extension. In addition, the
deputy director or director of the county child welfare department
shall approve the continued placement no less frequently than
every 60 days.

(iv) In addition, when a case plan indicates that placement is
for purposes of providing family reunification services. The facility
shall offer family reunification services that meet the needs of the
individual child and his or her family, permit parents to have
reasonable access to their children 24 hours a day, encourage
extensive parental involvement in meeting the daily needs of their
children, and employ staff trained to provide family reunification
services. In addition, one of the following conditions exists:

(I) The child’s parent is also under the jurisdiction of the court
and resides in the facility.

(II) The child’s parent is participating in a treatment program
affiliated with the facility and the child’s placement in the facility
facilitates the coordination and provision of reunification services.

(III) Placement in the facility is the only alternative that permits
the parent to have daily 24-hour access to the child in accordance
with the case plan, to participate fully in meeting all of the daily
needs of the child, including feeding and personal hygiene, and to
have access to necessary reunification services.

(B) A child who is 6 to 12 years of age, inclusive, may be placed
in a community care facility licensed as a group home for children
or a short-term residential treatment center under the following
conditions.

(i) The short-term, specialized, and intensive treatment period
shall not exceed six months, unless the county has made progress
or is actively working toward implementing the case plan that
identifies the services or supports necessary to transition the child
to a family setting, circumstances beyond the county’s control
have prevented the county from obtaining those services or
supports within the timeline documented in the case plan, and the
need for additional time pursuant to the case plan is documented
by the caseworker and approved by a deputy director or director
of the county child welfare department.

(ii) To the extent that placements pursuant to this paragraph are
extended beyond an initial six months, the requirements of this
subparagraph shall apply to each extension. In addition, the deputy
director or director of the county child welfare department shall
approve the continued placement no less frequently than every 60
days.

(10) Any child placed in a short-term residential treatment center
shall be either of the following:

(A) A child who has been assessed as meeting one of the
placement requirements set forth in subdivisions (d) and (e) of
Section 11462.01.

(B) A child under 6 years of age who is placed with his or her
minor parent or for the purpose of reunification pursuant to clause
(iv) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (9).

(11) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to allow a
social worker to place any dependent child outside the United
States, except as specified in subdivision (f).

(f) (1) A child under the supervision of a social worker pursuant
to subdivision (e) shall not be placed outside the United States
prior to a judicial finding that the placement is in the best interest
of the child, except as required by federal law or treaty.

(2) The party or agency requesting placement of the child outside
the United States shall carry the burden of proof and shall show,
by clear and convincing evidence, that placement outside the
United States is in the best interest of the child.

(3) In determining the best interest of the child, the court shall
consider, but not be limited to, the following factors:

(A) Placement with a relative.

(B) Placement of siblings in the same home.

(C) Amount and nature of any contact between the child and
the potential guardian or caretaker.

(D) Physical and medical needs of the dependent child.

(E) Psychological and emotional needs of the dependent child.

(F) Social, cultural, and educational needs of the dependent
child.

(G) Specific desires of any dependent child who is 12 years of
age or older.

(4) If the court finds that a placement outside the United States
is, by clear and convincing evidence, in the best interest of the
child, the court may issue an order authorizing the social worker
to make a placement outside the United States. A child subject to
this subdivision shall not leave the United States prior to the
issuance of the order described in this paragraph.

(5) For purposes of this subdivision, “outside the United States”
shall not include the lands of any federally recognized American
Indian tribe or Alaskan Natives.

(6) This subdivision shall not apply to the placement of a
dependent child with a parent pursuant to subdivision (a).

(g) (1) If the child is taken from the physical custody of the
child’s parent or guardian and unless the child is placed with
relatives, the child shall be placed in foster care in the county of
residence of the child’s parent or guardian in order to facilitate
reunification of the family.

(2) In the event that there are no appropriate placements
available in the parent’s or guardian’s county of residence, a
placement may be made in an appropriate place in another county,
preferably a county located adjacent to the parent’s or guardian’s
community of residence.

(3) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as requiring
multiple disruptions of the child’s placement corresponding to
frequent changes of residence by the parent or guardian. In
determining whether the child should be moved, the social worker
shall take into consideration the potential harmful effects of
disrupting the placement of the child and the parent’s or guardian’s
reason for the move.

(4) When it has been determined that it is necessary for a child
to be placed in a county other than the child’s parent’s or guardian’s
county of residence, the specific reason the out-of-county
placement is necessary shall be documented in the child’s case
plan. If the reason the out-of-county placement is necessary is the
lack of resources in the sending county to meet the specific needs
of the child, those specific resource needs shall be documented in
the case plan.

(5) When it has been determined that a child is to be placed out
of county either in a group home or with a foster family agency
for subsequent placement in a certified foster family home, and
the sending county is to maintain responsibility for supervision
and visitation of the child, the sending county shall develop a plan
of supervision and visitation that specifies the supervision and
visitation activities to be performed and specifies that the sending
county is responsible for performing those activities. In addition
to the plan of supervision and visitation, the sending county shall
document information regarding any known or suspected dangerous
behavior of the child that indicates the child may pose a safety
concern in the receiving county. Upon implementation of the Child
Welfare Services Case Management System, the plan of
supervision and visitation, as well as information regarding any
known or suspected dangerous behavior of the child, shall be made
available to the receiving county upon placement of the child in
the receiving county. If placement occurs on a weekend or holiday,
the information shall be made available to the receiving county on
or before the end of the next business day.

(6) When it has been determined that a child is to be placed out
of county and the sending county plans that the receiving county
shall be responsible for the supervision and visitation of the child,
the sending county shall develop a formal agreement between the
sending and receiving counties. The formal agreement shall specify
the supervision and visitation to be provided the child, and shall
specify that the receiving county is responsible for providing the
supervision and visitation. The formal agreement shall be approved
and signed by the sending and receiving counties prior to placement
of the child in the receiving county. In addition, upon completion
of the case plan, the sending county shall provide a copy of the
completed case plan to the receiving county. The case plan shall
include information regarding any known or suspected dangerous
behavior of the child that indicates the child may pose a safety
concern to the receiving county.

(h) Whenever the social worker must change the placement of
the child and is unable to find a suitable placement within the
county and must place the child outside the county, the placement
shall not be made until he or she has served written notice on the
parent or begin delete guardian end delete begin insert guardian, the child’s attorney, and, if the child
is 10 years of age or older, on the child, end insert at least 14 days prior to
the placement, unless the child’s health or well-being is endangered
by delaying the action or would be endangered if prior notice were
given. The notice shall state the reasons that require placement
outside the county. The begin insert child or end insert parent or guardian may object to
the placement not later than seven days after receipt of the notice
and, upon objection, the court shall hold a hearing not later than
five days after the objection and prior to the placement. The court
shall order out-of-county placement if it finds that the child’s
particular needs require placement outside the county.

(i) If the court has ordered removal of the child from the physical
custody of his or her parents pursuant to Section 361, the court
shall consider whether the family ties and best interest of the child
will be served by granting visitation rights to the child’s
grandparents. The court shall clearly specify those rights to the
social worker.

(j) If the court has ordered removal of the child from the physical
custody of his or her parents pursuant to Section 361, the court
shall consider whether there are any siblings under the court’s
jurisdiction, or any nondependent siblings in the physical custody
of a parent subject to the court’s jurisdiction, the nature of the
relationship between the child and his or her siblings, the
appropriateness of developing or maintaining the sibling
relationships pursuant to Section 16002, and the impact of the
sibling relationships on the child’s placement and planning for
legal permanence.

(k) (1) An agency shall ensure placement of a child in a home
that, to the fullest extent possible, best meets the day-to-day needs
of the child. A home that best meets the day-to-day needs of the
child shall satisfy all of the following criteria:

(A) The child’s caregiver is able to meet the day-to-day health,
safety, and well-being needs of the child.

(B) The child’s caregiver is permitted to maintain the least
restrictive family setting that promotes normal childhood
experiences and that serves the day-to-day needs of the child.

(C) The child is permitted to engage in reasonable,
age-appropriate day-to-day activities that promote normal
childhood experiences for the foster child.

(2) The foster child’s caregiver shall use a reasonable and
prudent parent standard, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision
(a) of Section 362.04, to determine day-to-day activities that are
age appropriate to meet the needs of the child. Nothing in this
section shall be construed to permit a child’s caregiver to permit
the child to engage in day-to-day activities that carry an
unreasonable risk of harm, or subject the child to abuse or neglect.

(l) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 2.  

To the extent that this act has an overall effect of
increasing the costs already borne by a local agency for programs
or levels of service mandated by the 2011 Realignment Legislation
within the meaning of Section 36 of Article XIII of the California
Constitution, it shall apply to local agencies only to the extent that
the state provides annual funding for the cost increase. Any new
program or higher level of service provided by a local agency
pursuant to this act above the level for which funding has been
provided shall not require a subvention of funds by the state nor
otherwise be subject to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.