Bill > AB1846

This bill modifies existing law regarding the placement of children who are removed from their parents' custody and become dependents of the juvenile court, meaning the court has legal responsibility for their care. The bill clarifies that when a child is removed from their parents, courts must give preferential consideration to placing the child with a relative, meaning relatives are the first placement option to be considered and investigated. If the court decides not to initially place the child with a considered relative, it must state the specific reasons for denying or delaying that placement, but this does not prevent a relative placement later. Furthermore, if a child welfare agency recommends placing the child with a relative and the court agrees it's in the child's best interest, the court must order that placement, and this placement can be changed later if another suitable relative or placement is identified, without requiring a new court petition.

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1846