Indian children.

Existing law authorizes the juvenile court to adjudge a child to be a dependent child of the court or a minor to be a ward of the court under specified circumstances, including, among others, there is a substantial risk that the child will suffer serious physical harm inflicted nonaccidentally. Existing law requires the juvenile court in these proceedings to inquire whether a child is or may be an Indian child, and if so, the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 requires, among other things, the notification of the proceedings to the Indian child's tribe. Existing law requires the Judicial Council, by July 1, 2021, to adopt rules of court to allow for telephonic or other remote appearance options by an Indian child's tribe in these proceedings. This bill would require the Judicial Council, on or before July 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, to report to the Legislature the number of telephonic or other remote appearance options used by an Indian child's tribe under these adopted rules during the prior 12 months.