California Welfare and Institutions Code GENERAL PROVISIONS

• Section 1.
  This act shall be known as the Welfare and Institutions Code.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 369.)
• Section 2.
  The provisions of this code, in so far as they are substantially the same as existing statutory provisions relating to the same subject matter, shall...
• Section 3.
  All persons who, at the time this code goes into effect, hold office under any of the acts repealed by this code, which offices are...
• Section 4.
  No action or proceeding commenced before this code takes effect, and no right accrued, is affected by the provisions of this code, but all procedure...
• Section 5.
  Unless the context otherwise requires, the general provisions hereinafter set forth shall govern the construction of this code.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 369.)
• Section 6.
  Division, part, chapter, article, and section headings contained herein shall not be deemed to govern, limit, modify, or in any manner affect the scope, meaning,...
• Section 7.
  Whenever, by the provisions of this code, a power is granted to a public officer or a duty imposed upon such an officer, the power...
• Section 8.
  Writing includes any form of recorded message capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means. Whenever any notice, report, statement, or record is required or authorized...
• Section 9.
  Whenever any reference is made to any portion of this code or of any other law of this State, such reference shall apply to all...
• Section 10.
  “Section” means a section of this code unless some other statute is specifically mentioned, and “subdivision” means a subdivision of the section in which that...
• Section 11.
  The present tense includes the past and future tenses, and the future tense includes the present.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 369.)
• Section 12.
  The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 369.)
• Section 12.2.
  “Spouse” includes “registered domestic partner,” as required by Section 297.5 of the Family Code.(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 50, Sec. 119. (SB 1005) Effective January...
• Section 13.
  The singular number includes the plural, and the plural number includes the singular.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 369.)
• Section 14.
  “County” includes “city and county.”(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 369.)
• Section 15.
  “Shall” is mandatory and “may” is permissive.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 369.)
• Section 16.
  “Oath” includes affirmation.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 369.)
• Section 17.
  “Signature” or “subscription” includes mark when the signer or subscriber can not write, such signer’s or subscriber’s name being written near the mark by a...
• Section 17.1.
  Unless otherwise provided under the provisions of this code, to the extent not in conflict with federal law, the residence of a minor person, or...
• Section 18.
  If any provision of this code, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of the code, or the...
• Section 19.
  It is the purpose of this code, in establishing programs and services which are designed to provide protection, support or care of children, to provide...
• Section 19.1.
  The purpose of the public social services for which state grants-in-aid are made to counties are:(a) To provide on behalf of the general public, and within...
• Section 21.
  (a) Whenever any reference is made in any provision of this code to the “State Department of Benefit Payments” or the “Department of Benefit Payments” with...
• Section 22.
  Whenever in any provision of law there is a reference to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 7000) of Division 7 of the Welfare and Institutions...
• Section 23.
  Whenever in any provision of law there is a reference to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 7000) of Division 7 of the Welfare and Institutions...
• Section 24.
  The provisions of Chapter 1129 of the Statutes of 1975 amending Sections 17.1, 739, 883, 1050, 1711, 1760.4, 10000, 10617, 11250.5, 11307, 11310, 11325, 17102...
• Section 26.
  (a) For purposes of this code, “assessed value” means 25 percent of full value to, and including, the 1980–81 fiscal year, and 100 percent of full...
• Section 27.
  Each agency and department responsible for listing in regulations the rights of children under this division shall incorporate the rights of foster children, as listed...

Last modified: October 22, 2018