BILL NUMBER: AB 2853	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Salinas

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2006

   An act to add Section 3150.5 to the Family Code, relating to
family law.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2853, as introduced, Salinas  Family law proceedings: San
Benito County pilot project.
   Existing law provides for appointment of investigators and child
custody evaluators in contested family law proceedings in which child
custody or visitation is in dispute.
   This bill would create in San Benito County, until January 1,
2010, a pilot project in which a family law court would, in the court'
s discretion, appoint a multidisciplinary team of professionals who
shall support the attorney to represent the best interests of a child
in family law matters when the custody of the child is in dispute
and one party to the action has accused the other party of domestic
violence or of child abuse against the child who is the subject of
the custody dispute, as specified.
   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 3150.5 is added to the Family Code, to read:
   3150.5.  (a) There is hereby created in San Benito County a pilot
project in which a family law court shall appoint a multidisciplinary
team of professionals who shall support the attorney appointed to
represent the best interests of a child in family law matters when
the custody of the child is in dispute and either of the following
applies:
   (1) One party to the action has accused the other party of
domestic violence.
   (2) One party has alleged that the other party has committed child
abuse against the child who is the subject of the custody dispute.
   (b) The multidisciplinary team shall be appointed by, and only at
the discretion of, the court. The team shall include a paralegal, a
psychologist, an investigator, a social worker, a counselor or
therapist, and a medical professional each of whom shall have
experience in assessing and presenting evidence on child abuse and
domestic violence.
   (c) The multidisciplinary team shall investigate and present
evidence supporting the investigation into the issue of the child's
best interest as it relates to the allegations of child abuse and
domestic violence.
   (d) The pilot project shall include a research component that
shall result in the creation of a protocol and a policy that may be
implemented in other counties throughout the state.
   (e) All funding for the pilot project shall be obtained from
private, nonprofit organizations. There shall be no cost to the
county for the implementation of this pilot project. This section
shall become operative only after independent sources of funding are
identified or become available.
  (f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2010,
and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
that is enacted before January 1, 2010, deletes or extends that date.