Juveniles: dependent children: reunification services.

Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge children to be dependents of the court under certain circumstances, including when the child suffered or there is a substantial risk that the child will suffer serious physical harm, or a parent fails to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment. Existing law establishes the grounds for removal of a dependent child from the custody of his or her parents or guardian, and establishes procedures to determine temporary placement of a dependent child. Existing law generally requires the court to order the social worker to provide designated child welfare services, including family reunification services, to the child and the child's mother and statutorily presumed father or guardians. Existing law provides that reunification services need not be provided to a parent or guardian when the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that a specified event has occurred, including that the child has been adjudicated a dependent as a result of severe sexual abuse or the infliction of severe physical harm to the child, a sibling, or a half sibling by a parent or guardian, and the court makes a factual finding that it would not benefit the child to pursue reunification services with the offending parent or guardian. This bill would also provide that reunification services need not be provided when the court finds that the parent or guardian knowingly participated in, or permitted, the sexual exploitation of the child, as prescribed, except if the parent or guardian demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that he or she was coerced into permitting, or participating in, the sexual exploitation of the child. Existing law requires the court, if it does not order reunification services pursuant to specified provisions, to determine at the dispositional hearing if a hearing shall be set in order to determine the most appropriate plan for the child. This bill would require the court to make that determination if it does not order reunification services because it found that the parent or guardian knowingly participated in, or permitted, the sexual exploitation of the child, as prescribed.