Juvenile proceedings: costs.

Existing law provides for the appointment of counsel to represent a parent or guardian of a child, or the child, in juvenile court proceedings if the parent or guardian is unable to afford counsel. Existing law also provides that the father, mother, spouse, or other person liable for the support of the minor shall be liable to the county for those costs, except as specified, and, more generally, for specified other costs, including the reasonable costs of support of the minor while the minor is placed in, detained in, or committed to, any institution pursuant to an order of the juvenile court or pursuant to the authority of a peace officer to take a minor into temporary custody. Existing law authorizes the board of supervisors to designate a county financial evaluation officer to make financial evaluations of liability for reimbursement of the costs described above, as specified, and authorizes that officer to petition the court for an order requiring the person who is determined to be financially responsible to pay the costs. This bill would expand the provisions described above to specifically provide that the persons who are liable for the support of the minor shall also be liable for the cost to the county or the court for the cost of legal services rendered to the minor, except under specified circumstances. The bill would specify that the fees collected pursuant to this provision be deposited in the Trial Court Trust Fund. The bill would require the Judicial Council to establish a cost recovery program, including a specified statewide standard for determining the ability to pay, to collect reimbursements for the costs of counsel appointed by the court to represent parents or minors, as specified. The bill would also authorize the court, with the consent of the county and pursuant to the terms and conditions agreed upon by the court and the county, to designate a financial evaluation officer to make financial evaluations of liability for reimbursement pursuant to the provision governing liability for the cost to the county or the court of legal services rendered to the minor. The bill would also make related and technical changes.