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Assembly committee backs bill to require counsel to follow wishes of non‑minor dependents in foster care
Summary
The Assembly Committee on Human Services voted to pass AB 373 to the Appropriations Committee. The bill would clarify that attorneys appointed in dependency proceedings must represent the expressed wishes of non‑minor dependents (ages 18–21) rather than substitute their judgment.
Assemblymember Blanca Rubio’s AB 373 would make explicit that attorneys appointed in juvenile dependency proceedings must respect the expressed wishes of non‑minor dependents — foster youth ages 18 to 21 — and not substitute the attorney’s judgment for the adult client.
The bill's author told the Committee on Human Services that current law allows counsel appointed for dependents to advocate for what the attorney perceives as the client’s best interest, a standard appropriate for minors but inconsistent with the legal status of adults. “Non‑minor dependents do have greater autonomy and the ability to express their wishes about court proceedings, but…
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