Juveniles: ward, dependent, and nonminor dependent parents.

Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge a child to be a dependent 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 authorizes a social worker to commence proceedings in the juvenile court to declare a child to be a dependent child of the court by the filing of a petition with the court. In any case in which a social worker, after investigation of an application for petition or other investigation, determines that a child is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court or will probably soon be within the jurisdiction, existing law authorizes the social worker, in lieu of filing a petition or subsequent to dismissal of a petition already filed, and with the consent of the child's parent or guardian, to undertake a program of supervision of the child. If the parent is a dependent of the juvenile court at the time that a social worker seeks to undertake a program of supervision, and if counsel has been appointed for the parent, existing law prohibits the program of supervision from being undertaken until the parent has consulted with his or her counsel. This bill would make this prohibition applicable to a parent who is a nonminor dependent or ward of the juvenile court. The bill would require a ward, in cases when he or she is not represented by counsel appointed in a dependency proceeding, to be given the opportunity to confer with counsel appointed in the wardship proceeding or by counsel retained to represent the ward in the wardship proceeding. Existing law, in the case of a child for whom one or both minor parents have been adjudged to be dependent children of the juvenile court, authorizes family reunification services to be provided to the family of the dependent child under circumstances in which ordinarily those services would be denied and requires a party seeking an involuntary foster care placement of, or termination of parental rights over, a child born to a parent or parents who were minors at the time of the child's birth to demonstrate to the court that reasonable efforts were made to provide remedial services designed to prevent the removal from the minor parent or parents, and that these efforts have proved unsuccessful. This bill would extend the application of those services and requirements in the case of a child for whom one or both minor parents have been adjudged to be a ward of the court. The bill would also grant a parent who is a ward of the juvenile court or a dependent or nonminor dependent parent the right to consult with his or her legal counsel prior to a social worker or probation officer arranging any informal or formal custody agreement that includes a temporary or permanent voluntary relinquishment of custody by the parent or recommending that a nonparent seek legal guardianship of the child. The bill would require the social worker or probation officer to note in the case file whether the ward, dependent, or nonminor dependent parent consulted with legal counsel, or if the opportunity for consultation was provided and the consultation did not occur, then the reason that the consultation did not occur. By imposing additional duties on local entities under these circumstances, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.