Juveniles.

Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge a child to be a dependent of the court under certain circumstances. Existing law specifies that a proceeding to declare a juvenile a dependent is commenced by the social worker filing a petition with the juvenile court and authorizes a person to apply to the social worker to commence dependency proceedings. If the social worker does not undertake a program of supervision of the child or file a petition in the juvenile court within 3 weeks after the application, the social worker is required to document that decision and the person who applied to the social worker may apply to the juvenile court to review the social worker's decision. This bill would shorten that time period to 10 business days after the application if the child about whom an application is made is homeless, has been a dependent or ward of the juvenile court, or has received informal probation or child welfare services. The bill would also require the juvenile court to review those applications and issue a decision no more than 14 days after the application is made. By requiring a higher level of service from 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.