Juveniles: dependent children.

Existing law provides that after a child is declared a dependent child of the court, any parent or other person having an interest in the child, including the dependent child, may petition the court to change, modify, or set aside an order in the dependency proceedings or to terminate the court's jurisdiction. Existing law further permits any party, including the dependent child, to petition the court to terminate reunification services before the dependency review hearing. A court may terminate reunification services under this provision only after finding by a preponderance of the evidence that reasonable services have been offered and after finding by clear and convincing evidence either that a change in circumstances justifies termination of reunification services or that the parent's action or inaction makes reunification unlikely. This bill would require a court to order a hearing on a proposed modification of reunification services, custody, or visitation orders concerning a child for whom reunification services were not ordered if the court finds that the best interests of the child would be met by the proposed change. Additionally, this bill would require a court to modify an order finding that reunification services were not necessary when a party has petitioned the court prior to the issuance of an order terminating parental rights only if the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the proposed change is in the child's best interests. The bill would apply the same requirements to petitions to modify an order relating to custody or visitation of the dependent child. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.