Yaeli’s Law.

Assembly Member Castillo's legislation, known as Yaeli's Law, modifies California's legal framework regarding what constitutes child abuse and neglect in relation to gender identity matters. The bill amends sections of the Family, Penal, Probate, and Welfare and Institutions codes to establish that certain parental actions regarding a child's gender identity do not constitute abuse or neglect under state law.

The legislation specifically excludes several parental behaviors from being classified as child abuse or neglect: using a child's legal name, using pronouns consistent with the child's recorded birth sex, treating a child in accordance with their recorded birth sex, or declining to provide or consent to gender-affirming medical or mental health care. These exclusions apply across multiple contexts, including child custody determinations, abuse investigations, and dependency proceedings.

The bill creates new legal protections for parents and guardians by establishing a private right of action against agencies or individuals who investigate them or remove their children based solely on these specified actions. Under these provisions, courts may award damages, equitable relief, and attorney's fees to prevailing parties. The legislation also modifies existing mandated reporting requirements to align with these new parameters while maintaining other child protection standards.

For implementation, relevant agencies must update their protocols and training to incorporate these changes into abuse and neglect investigations, custody determinations, and dependency proceedings. The bill maintains current appropriations levels and requires majority approval for passage.