AB 877

This bill requires a court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under the Children's

Code and the Juvenile Justice Code (juvenile court), in certain circumstances, to

provide notice of proceedings relating to a child or juvenile to the parents and siblings

of a person who is alleged to be the father of the child or juvenile.

Under current law, after a petition has been filed relating to facts concerning

a child in need of protection or services (CHIPS), a juvenile in need of protection or

services (JIPS), or an unborn child in need of protection or services (UCHIPS), the

juvenile court must notify certain individuals. Among the individuals who must be

notified is a person who has filed a declaration of his paternal interest in matters

affecting the child or juvenile (declaration of paternal interest) or who is alleged to

the juvenile court to be the father of the child or juvenile or who may, based on the

statements of the mother or other information presented to the juvenile court, be the

father of the child or juvenile (alleged father), unless a physician attests to his or her

belief that the child or juvenile was conceived as a result of sexual assault. This bill

adds that the juvenile court must also give notice to an alleged father's parents and

siblings unless a physician attests to his or her belief that the child or juvenile was

conceived as a result of sexual assault.

Also under current law, with respect to any proceeding relating to a child or

juvenile who is under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, and subject to the notice

requirements that apply in a CHIPS, JIPS, or UCHIPS proceeding, the juvenile

court must make every reasonable effort to identify and notify any person who has

filed a declaration of paternal interest, any person who has acknowledged paternity

of the child or juvenile, and any person who has been adjudged to be the father of the

child or juvenile unless the person's parental rights have been terminated. This bill

adds that the juvenile court must also make every reasonable effort to identify and

notify any alleged father and the parents and siblings of a person who has filed a

declaration of paternal interest, who has acknowledged paternity or has been

adjudged to be the father of the child or juvenile, or who is an alleged father.