CaliforniaDependency proceedings: counsel.
What it does
Existing law requires the juvenile court to appoint counsel for a child or nonminor dependent in dependency proceedings if they are not represented by counsel, unless the court determines that there would be no benefit from the appointment of counsel. Existing law authorizes counsel to be a district attorney, public defender, or other member of the State Bar, who satisfies certain conditions. Existing law specifies that a primary responsibility of counsel appointed to represent a child or nonminor dependent is to advocate for the protection, safety, and physical and emotional well-being of the child or nonminor dependent.
More detail
Under existing law, counsel in general is charged with representation of the child's best interests. Existing law requires, when counsel is appointed for a nonminor dependent, counsel to represent the wishes of the nonminor dependent except when advocating for those wishes conflicts with the protection or safety of the nonminor dependent.
This bill would remove the requirement that a primary responsibility of appointed counsel is to advocate for the protection, safety, and physical and emotional well-being of a nonminor dependent. The bill would also remove the above-described exception to representing the wishes of the nonminor dependent when those wishes conflict with the protection or safety of the nonminor dependent.
Where do you stand?
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Oct 1Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 146, Statutes of 2025.Latest
- Oct 1Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 9Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.To Governor
- Sep 3In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB373 Blanca Rubio By Arreguín. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 3Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 8. Page 2445.).Passed Senate
- Jul 9Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Jul 8From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (July 7).Minor
- Jul 7
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 17From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HUMAN S. (Ayes 10. Noes 1.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services]. Result: pass.Upper
- May 7Referred to Coms. on JUD. and HUMAN S.Minor
- Apr 7In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 373 Blanca Rubio Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 64. Noes 0. Page 1031.)Passed Assembly
- Mar 27Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Mar 26From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (March 25).Minor
- Mar 25
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 12Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.Minor
- Mar 11From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. Read second time and amended.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (March 11). Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.Minor
- Feb 18Referred to Coms. on JUD. and HUM. S.Minor
- Feb 4From printer. May be heard in committee March 6.
- Feb 3Read first time. To print.Introduced