Juveniles: wards: case plans.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details about the components of case plans or mention additional financial burdens for local agencies and schools.

Juveniles: Wards: Case Plans

This law requires case plans with specific parts for minors who are not recommended to be removed from their parents or guardians and those committed to juvenile facilities, and mandates regular reviews of these plans.

What This Bill Does

• Requires a case plan with certain details to be included in the social study when the probation officer recommends wardship but does not recommend removing the minor from their parent or guardian.
• Also requires a case plan for minors who are committed to juvenile homes, ranches, camps, forestry camps, or halls.
• Orders minors to follow any case plans that are made.
• Requires courts to review how well minors are following their case plans at least every six months.

Who It Names or Affects

• Minors who become wards of the juvenile court and do not need to be removed from their parents or guardians.
• Minors committed to juvenile facilities like homes, ranches, camps, forestry camps, or halls.
• County probation officers responsible for creating case plans.

Terms To Know

Ward

A minor who is under the care of a court because they have broken laws and need special help from the court.

Case Plan

A plan that helps guide what steps a minor needs to take to improve their situation, like going to school or getting counseling.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify all the details of the case plans.
• It is unclear when exactly this law will start because there's no effective date listed.

Official Summary Text

SB 552, as introduced, Cortese.
Juveniles: wards: case plans.
Under existing law, a minor who is 12 to 17 years of age when they violate any criminal law in this state, except an ordinance establishing a curfew based solely on age, or a minor under 12 years of age if they commit certain serious offenses, is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge the person a ward of the court. Existing law requires, after finding that the minor is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, the court to hear evidence on the question of the proper disposition to be made of the minor and requires the court to receive in evidence a social study of the minor made by the probation officer. Existing law requires, when the probation officer recommends the minor to be placed in foster care, or if the minor is already in foster care placement or pending placement pursuant to an earlier order, the social study to include a case plan with specified
components.
This bill would also require a case plan, with specified components, to be developed and included in the social study in cases in which the probation officer recommends wardship and either does not recommend removal of the minor from their parent or guardian, or recommends commitment of the minor to a juvenile home, ranch, camp, forestry camp, or juvenile hall. The bill would also require the court to order a minor to comply with any case plan that is developed and to review the ward’s progress toward meeting the goals in a case plan at a hearing no less than once every 6 months. By increasing the duties of county probation officers, 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF