Juveniles: protective custody warrant.

Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which is permitted to adjudge certain children to be dependents of the court under certain circumstances, including when the child is abused, a parent or guardian fails to adequately supervise or protect the child, as specified, or a parent or guardian fails to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment. Existing law requires a proceeding in the juvenile court to declare a child to be a dependent child of the court to be commenced by the filing with the court, by the social worker, of a petition in conformity with specified requirements. Existing law authorizes the court to issue a protective custody warrant for a minor under certain circumstances, including when a petition has been filed in the juvenile court alleging that the minor comes within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court as a dependent or when a dependent minor has run away from his or her court-ordered placement. This bill would authorize the court to issue a protective custody warrant, without filing a petition in the juvenile court alleging that the minor comes within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court as a dependent, if there is probable cause to believe the minor comes within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court as a dependent, there is a substantial danger to the safety or to the physical or emotional health of the child, and there are no reasonable means to protect the child's safety or physical health without removal. The bill would require any child taken into protective custody under these provisions to immediately be delivered to the social worker who shall investigate the facts and circumstances of the child and the facts surrounding the child being taken into custody and attempt to maintain the child with the child's family through the provision of services. By imposing additional duties on county social workers, this 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.