AB 632

Current law grants to the parents, guardian, and legal custodian of a child the

right to participate in proceedings under the Children's Code concerning the child.

This bill grants similar rights to the next of kin of a parent who is the victim of a

homicide for which the child's other parent has been convicted (next of kin of a

parental homicide victim), which the bill defines as the next of kin of a parental

homicide victim, as determined by the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under

the Children's Code (juvenile court) in the following order of priority:

1. The spouse or domestic partner of the parental homicide victim, unless the

spouse or domestic partner committed the homicide.

2. If the parental homicide victim does not have a spouse or domestic partner

who has not committed the homicide (spouse or domestic partner), the adult child of

that victim whom the juvenile court determines is best able to represent the interests

of the family of that victim in a proceeding under the Children's Code.

3. If the parental homicide victim does not have a spouse, domestic partner, or

adult child, the parent of that victim whom the juvenile court determines is best able

to represent the interests of that family in such a proceeding.

4. If the parental homicide victim does not have a spouse, domestic partner,

adult child, or parent, the adult sibling of that victim whom the juvenile court

determines is best able to represent the interests of that family in such a proceeding.

5. If the parental homicide victim does not have a spouse, domestic partner,

adult child, parent, or adult sibling, the grandparent of that victim whom the

juvenile court determines is best able to represent the interests of that family in such

a proceeding.

6. If the parental homicide victim does not have a spouse, domestic partner,

adult child, parent, adult sibling, or grandparent, the adult relative of that victim in

the next degree of kinship whom the juvenile court determines is best able to

represent the interests of that family in such a proceeding.

Specifically, the bill:

1.

Temporary physical custody of a child.

Requires the next of kin of a

parental homicide victim to be notified when a child of that homicide victim is taken

into custody and, if the child is held in custody, to be notified of the time and place

of the temporary physical custody hearing for the child, the nature and possible

consequences of the hearing, and the right to present and cross examine witnesses

at the hearing.

2.

Intake inquiry and informal disposition.

Requires the next of kin of a

parental homicide victim to be notified of intake conferences conducted as part of the