Bill Text: CA AB73 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Dependency proceedings: public access.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-01 - Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB73 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB73-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 73	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Feuer

                        DECEMBER 21, 2010

   An act relating to juveniles.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 73, as introduced, Feuer. Dependency proceedings: public
access.
   Existing law provides that the public shall not be admitted to a
juvenile court hearing in a dependency proceeding, unless requested
by a parent or guardian and consented to or requested by the minor
concerning whom the petition has been filed. Existing law permits the
judge or referee to admit those persons as he or she deems to have a
direct and legitimate interest in the particular case or the work of
the court.
   This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation to provide that juvenile court hearings in juvenile
dependency cases shall be presumptively open to the public, unless
the court finds that admitting the public would not be in a child's
best interest. The bill would also include a statement of legislative
findings and declarations.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Many states increasingly permit or require public access to
juvenile court hearings in juvenile dependency cases involving abuse
and neglect.
   (b) Pursuant to Section 346 of the Welfare and Institutions Code,
California is currently among the states that require that all
proceedings in juvenile dependency matters be closed to the public,
except under specified circumstances.
   (c) Public access to juvenile court hearings has the benefit of
ensuring that the child welfare system can be held more accountable,
and of educating the public about the needs of the child welfare
system.
   (d) Children's privacy rights can be protected by ensuring that
juvenile court judges have the discretion to close individual
hearings based on the circumstances of the cases and the needs and
best interests of specific children while presumptively ensuring
those proceedings are open and transparent.
  SEC. 2.  It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation
to provide that juvenile court hearings in juvenile dependency cases
shall be presumptively open to the public unless the court finds that
admitting the public would not be in a child's best interest.