Juveniles: sexting.

Existing law provides that any person under the 18 years of age who engages in certain noncriminal behavior, including persistently or habitually refusing to obey the reasonable and proper orders or directions of his or her parents, guardian, or custodian, is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court which may adjudge that person a ward of the court. Under existing law, juvenile court proceedings to declare a minor a ward of the court for noncriminal behavior are commenced by the filing of a petition by the probation officer. Existing law authorizes the juvenile court to order these minors to perform community service for a total time not to exceed 20 hours, as specified. This bill would extend the juvenile court's jurisdiction to also include minors who engaged in sexting, as defined, images of themselves or other minors, thereby expanding the duties of the probation officer and imposing a state-mandated local program. The bill would, notwithstanding the provision described above, require a court to order a minor who engaged in sexting to perform 24 or 40 hours of community service, as provided. 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.