Title
Title
Rules and Forms | Juvenile Law: Incarcerated Parents and Nonminor Dependents (Action Required)
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Summary
Summary
Assembly Bill 651 (Stats. 2025, ch. 274) amended Penal Code section 2625 to require courts to include wards in secure youth treatment facilities when sending notice to incarcerated parents and allowing them to attend specified dependency hearings. If an incarcerated parent waives in-person attendance, the statute requires incarcerated parents to be given the opportunity to participate in the hearing by videoconference or, if unavailable, by teleconference. The bill also amended Welfare and Institutions Code section 349 to extend to nonminor dependents the rights to notice, participation, and continuances if notice is not provided. To implement these changes, the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee proposes amending two rules of court and revising two mandatory forms.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee recommends that the Judicial Council, effective January 1, 2027:
1. Amend California Rules of Court, rule 5.530;
2. Amend California Rules of Court, rule 5.900;
3. Revise form JV-450, Order for Prisoner’s Appearance at Hearing Affecting Parental Rights; and
4. Revise form JV-451, Prisoner’s Statement Regarding Appearance at Hearing Affecting Parental Rights.
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