Nonminor dependents: county of residence.

Assembly Member Lee, joined by Principal Coauthor Assembly Member Davies, proposes changes to California's procedures for transferring jurisdiction of nonminor dependent cases between counties, expanding options for youth in extended foster care to relocate within the state.

The legislation creates a new pathway for nonminor dependents to request transfers of their cases to different counties when such moves align with their best interests. Courts must evaluate these requests by considering factors including enhanced access to services, the positions of social workers and probation officers, and the youth's connections to the new location through education, employment, housing, or support systems. The bill establishes specific timelines, requiring courts to issue transfer orders within 30 days of a request and giving new counties jurisdiction within 10 days of the order.

The measure also modifies review hearing requirements, mandating that courts actively consider whether nonminor dependents wish to transfer jurisdiction to a new county. This consideration must occur during the last hearing before a youth turns 18, at six-month review hearings, and at other specified proceedings. For youth receiving family reunification services, courts must evaluate transfer requests alongside determinations about continuing those services.

These amendments aim to create more structured opportunities for nonminor dependents to initiate jurisdictional changes while maintaining appropriate oversight through detailed reporting requirements and specific criteria for evaluating transfer requests. The provisions complement existing residency rules that allow transfers based on physical presence and expressed intent to remain in a county.