AB 630

This bill allows a motion for termination of parental rights (TPR) to be filed in

a proceeding in which it is alleged that a child is in need of protection or services

(CHIPS).

Under current law, a TPR proceeding may be initiated only by filing a petition

with the juvenile court. A TPR petition initiates a new proceeding that is unrelated

to any other ongoing proceedings concerning the child in the juvenile court. This bill

allows a county department of human or social services, the child's parent, and other

specified entities and individuals to initiate a TPR proceeding by filing a motion for

TPR in an ongoing CHIPS proceeding.

Also, under current law, with certain exceptions, a parent does not have a right

to legal representation in a CHIPS proceeding, but does have a statutory right to

legal representation in a TPR proceeding, including the right to be represented by

a public defender if indigent. Under this bill, beginning when a TPR motion is filed

in a CHIPS proceeding as described above, the parent has a statutory right to legal

representation in the CHIPS proceeding, including the right to be represented by a

public defender if indigent.