Code Section

369.5.  

(a) (1) If a child is adjudged a dependent child of the court under Section 300 and the child has been removed from the physical custody of the parent under Section 361, only a juvenile court judicial officer shall have authority to make orders regarding the administration of psychotropic medications for that child. The juvenile court may issue a specific order delegating this authority to a parent upon making findings on the record that the parent poses no danger to the child and has the capacity to authorize psychotropic medications. Court authorization for the administration of psychotropic medication shall be based on a request from a physician, indicating the reasons for the request, a description of the child’s diagnosis and behavior, the expected results of the medication, and a description of any side effects of the medication.

(2) (A) The Judicial Council shall amend and adopt rules of court and develop appropriate forms for the implementation of this section, in consultation with the State Department of Social Services, the State Department of Health Care Services, and stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, the Chief Probation Officers of California, associations representing current and former foster children, caregivers, and children’s attorneys. This effort shall be undertaken in coordination with the updates required under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 739.5.

(B) The rules of court and forms developed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall address all of the following:

(i) The child and their caregiver and court-appointed special advocate, if any, have an opportunity to provide input on the medications being prescribed.

(ii) Information regarding the child’s overall mental health assessment and treatment plan is provided to the court.

(iii) Information regarding the rationale for the proposed medication, provided in the context of past and current treatment efforts, is provided to the court. This information shall include, but not be limited to, information on other pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments that have been utilized and the child’s response to those treatments, a discussion of symptoms not alleviated or ameliorated by other current or past treatment efforts, and an explanation of how the psychotropic medication being prescribed is expected to improve the child’s symptoms.

(iv) Guidance is provided to the court on how to evaluate the request for authorization, including how to proceed if information, otherwise required to be included in a request for authorization under this section, is not included in a request for authorization submitted to the court.

(C) The rules of court and forms developed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall include a process for periodic oversight by the court of orders regarding the administration of psychotropic medications that includes the caregiver’s and child’s observations regarding the effectiveness of the medication and side effects, information on medication management appointments and other followup appointments with medical practitioners, and information on the delivery of other mental health treatments that are a part of the child’s overall treatment plan. The periodic oversight shall be facilitated by the county social worker, public health nurse, or other appropriate county staff. This oversight process shall be conducted in conjunction with other regularly scheduled court hearings and reports provided to the court by the county child welfare agency.

(D) (i) By September 1, 2020, the forms developed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall include a request for authorization by the child or the child’s attorney to release the child’s medical information to the Medical Board of California in order to ascertain whether there is excessive prescribing of psychotropic medication that is inconsistent with the standard of care described in Section 2245 of the Business and Professions Code. The authorization shall be limited to medical information relevant to the investigation of the prescription of psychotropic medication, and the information may only be used for the purpose set forth in this subparagraph and Section 2245 of the Business and Professions Code.

(ii) The Medical Board of California or its representative shall request the medical information obtained pursuant to this section to be sealed if the medical information is admitted as an exhibit in an administrative hearing pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(iii) In updating the forms, as required by this subparagraph and subparagraph (D) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 739.5, the Judicial Council shall consult with the State Department of Social Services, the Medical Board of California, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the Chief Probation Officers of California, and groups representing foster children, dependency counsel, and children’s advocates to help ensure that the child and the child’s attorney are provided with sufficient information to understand the request for authorization to obtain the child’s medical information and the reasons for the request. The Judicial Council may include in the form a requirement that the person completing the form affirm that the child or child’s attorney has been asked about the authorization.

(iv) (I) By January 1, 2020, the State Department of Social Services shall convene a working group consisting of the Judicial Council, the Medical Board of California, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the Chief Probation Officers of California, and groups representing foster children, dependency counsel, and children’s advocates to consider various options for seeking authorization from a dependent child, a ward, or their attorney, for release of the dependent child’s or ward’s medical information regarding psychotropic medication prescribed between January 1, 2017, and July 1, 2020, and shall report to the Legislature by April 15, 2020, on those options and on any recommendations to best reach those children and their attorneys to seek authorization.

(II) (ia) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under subclause (I) is inoperative on January 1, 2024, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.

(ib) A report to be submitted pursuant to subclause (I) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(b) (1) In counties in which the county child welfare agency completes the request for authorization for the administration of psychotropic medication, the agency is encouraged to complete the request within three business days of receipt from the physician of the information necessary to fully complete the request.

(2) This subdivision does not change current local practice or local court rules with respect to the preparation and submission of requests for authorization for the administration of psychotropic medication.

(c) (1) Within seven court days from receipt by the court of a completed request, the juvenile court judicial officer shall either approve or deny in writing a request for authorization for the administration of psychotropic medication to the child, or shall, upon a request by the parent, the legal guardian, or the child’s attorney, or upon its own motion, set the matter for hearing.

(2) (A) Notwithstanding Section 827 or any other law, upon the approval or denial by the juvenile court judicial officer of a request for authorization for the administration of psychotropic medication, the county child welfare agency or other person or entity who submitted the request shall provide a copy of the court order approving or denying the request to the child’s caregiver.

(B) If the court approves the request, the copy of the order shall include the last two pages of form JV-220(A) or the last two pages of JV-220(B) and all medication information sheets that were attached to form JV-220(A) or form JV-220(B), which are all referenced in Rule 5.640 of the California Rules of Court.

(C) If the child changes placement, the social worker or probation officer shall provide the new caregiver with a copy of the order, including the last two pages of form JV-220(A) or the last two pages of JV-220(B), and the medication information sheets that were attached to form JV-220(A) or form JV-220(B), which are all referenced in Rule 5.640 of the California Rules of Court.

(d) Psychotropic medication or psychotropic drugs are those medications administered for the purpose of affecting the central nervous system to treat psychiatric disorders or illnesses. These medications include, but are not limited to, anxiolytic agents, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotic medications, anti-Parkinson agents, hypnotics, medications for dementia, and psychostimulants.

(e) This section does not supersede local court rules regarding a minor’s right to participate in mental health decisions.

(f) This section does not apply to nonminor dependents, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400.