(a) (1) On and after January 1, 2012, the court shall hold a hearing prior to terminating jurisdiction over a ward who satisfies any of the following criteria:
(A) Is a minor subject to an order for foster care placement described in Section 11402 as a ward who has not previously been subject to the jurisdiction of the court as a result of a petition filed pursuant to Section 325.
(B) Is a nonminor who was subject to an order for foster care placement described in Section 11402 as a ward on the day he or she attained 18 years of age.
(C) Is a ward who was subject to an order for foster care placement described in Section 11402 as a dependent of the court at the time the court adjudged the child to be a ward of the court under Section 725.
(2) The notice of hearing under this subdivision may be served electronically pursuant to Section 212.5.
(b) At a hearing during which termination of jurisdiction over a ward described in subdivision (a) is being considered, the court shall take one of the following actions:
(1) Modify its jurisdiction from delinquency jurisdiction to transition jurisdiction, if the court finds the ward is a person described in Section 450.
(2) (A) For a ward who was not previously subject to the jurisdiction of the court as a result of a petition filed pursuant to Section 325, order the probation department or the ward’s attorney to submit an application to the child welfare services department pursuant to Section 329 to declare the minor a dependent of the court and modify the court’s jurisdiction from delinquency jurisdiction to dependency jurisdiction, if the court finds all of the following:
(i) The ward is a minor.
(ii) The ward does not come within the description in Section 450, but jurisdiction as a ward may no longer be required.
(iii) The ward appears to come within the description of Section 300 and cannot be returned home safely.
(B) The court shall set a hearing within 20 judicial days of the date of the order described in subparagraph (A) to review the child welfare services department’s decision and may either affirm its decision not to file a petition pursuant to Section 300 or order the child welfare services department to file a petition pursuant to Section 300. The notice of hearing under this subparagraph may be served electronically pursuant to Section 212.5.
(3) Vacate the order terminating jurisdiction over the minor as a dependent of the court, resume jurisdiction pursuant to Section 300 based on the prior petition filed pursuant to Section 325, and terminate the court’s jurisdiction over the minor as a ward, if the minor was subject to an order for foster care placement described in Section 11402 as a dependent of the court at the time the court adjudged the minor to be a ward and assumed jurisdiction over the minor under Section 725.
(4) Continue its delinquency jurisdiction over a ward pursuant to Section 303 as a nonminor dependent, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400, who is eligible to remain in foster care pursuant to Section 11403, if the ward is a nonminor and the court did not modify its jurisdiction as described in Section 450, unless the court finds that after reasonable and documented efforts, the ward cannot be located or does not wish to become a nonminor dependent. In making this finding and prior to entering an order terminating its delinquency jurisdiction, the court shall ensure that the ward has had an opportunity to confer with his or her counsel and has been informed of his or her options, including the right to reenter foster care placement by completing a voluntary reentry agreement as described in subdivision (z) of Section 11400 and to file a petition pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 388 for the court to assume or resume transition jurisdiction over him or her pursuant to Section 450. The fact that a ward declines to be a nonminor dependent does not restrict the authority of the court to maintain delinquency jurisdiction pursuant to Section 607.
(5) Continue its delinquency jurisdiction.
(6) Terminate its delinquency jurisdiction if the ward does not come within the provisions of paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive.
(c) If the court modifies jurisdiction, its order shall comply with the requirements of subdivision (f) of Section 241.1.
(d) This section shall not be construed as changing the requirements of Section 727.2 or 727.3 with respect to reunification of minors with their families or the establishment of an alternative permanent plan for minors for whom reunification is not pursued.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 319, Sec. 136. (AB 976) Effective January 1, 2018.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018