Section 361.4.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 361.4.
in effect(a)
Prior to making the emergency placement of a child pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 309 or Section 361.45, the county welfare department shall do all of the following:
(1)
Conduct an in-home inspection to assess the safety of the home and the ability of the relative or nonrelative extended family member to care for the child’s needs.
(2)
Cause a state-level criminal records check to be conducted by an appropriate government agency through the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) pursuant to Section 16504.5 for all of the following:
(A)
All persons over 18 years of age living in the home of the relative or nonrelative extended family member seeking emergency placement of the child, excluding any person who is a nonminor dependent, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400.
(B)
At the discretion of the county welfare department, any other person over 18 years of age known to the department to be regularly present in the home, other than professionals providing professional services to the child.
(C)
At the discretion of the county welfare department, any person over 14 years of age living in the home who the department believes may have a criminal record. This subparagraph shall not apply to a child under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court.
(3)
Conduct a check of allegations of prior child abuse or neglect concerning the relative or nonrelative extended family member and other adults in the home.
(b)
(1)
If CLETS information obtained pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) indicates that the person has no criminal record, the child may be placed in the home on an emergency basis.
(2)
If the CLETS information obtained pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) indicates that the person has been convicted of an offense described in subparagraph (B) or (D) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code, the child shall not be placed in the home unless a criminal record exemption has been granted using the exemption criteria specified in paragraph (2) of
subdivision (g) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code.
(3)
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), a child may be placed on an emergency basis if the CLETS information obtained pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) indicates that the person has been convicted of an offense not described in subclause (II) of clause (i) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code, pending a criminal record exemption decision based on live scan fingerprint results if all of the following conditions are met:
(A)
The conviction does not involve an offense against a child.
(B)
The deputy director or director of the county welfare department, or their designee, determines that the
placement is in the best interests of the child.
(C)
No party to the case objects to the placement.
(4)
If the CLETS information obtained pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) indicates that the person has been arrested for any offense described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code, the child shall not be placed on an emergency basis in the home until the investigation required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code has been completed and the deputy director or director of the county welfare department, or their designee, and the court have considered the investigation results when determining whether the placement is in the best interests of the child.
(5)
If the CLETS information obtained pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) indicates that the person has been convicted of an offense described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code, the child shall not be placed in the home on an emergency basis.
(6)
Notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (5), or the placement recommendation of the county placing agency, the court may authorize the placement of a child on an emergency basis in the home of a relative, regardless of the status of any criminal record exemption or resource family approval, if the court finds that the placement does not pose a risk to the health and safety of the child.
(c)
Within 10 calendar days
following the criminal records check conducted through the CLETS or 5 business days of making the emergency placement, whichever is sooner, the social worker shall ensure that a fingerprint clearance check of the relative or nonrelative extended family member and any other person whose criminal record was obtained pursuant to this section is initiated through the Department of Justice to ensure the accuracy of the criminal records check conducted through the CLETS and ensure criminal record clearance of the relative or nonrelative extended family member and all adults in the home pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 16519.5 and any associated written directives or regulations.
(d)
An identification card from a foreign consulate or foreign passport shall be considered a valid form of identification for conducting a criminal records check pursuant to this section.
(e)
Notwithstanding any other law, a federally recognized tribe or tribal organization, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 10553.12, is authorized, but not required, to approve homes for the purpose of the emergency placement of an Indian child as defined in Section 224.1, if the federally recognized tribe or tribal organization provides written confirmation to the county agency that all steps required under subdivisions (a) and (b) have been completed. An emergency placement for an Indian child
approved by a federally recognized tribe or tribal organization shall be eligible for the same funding afforded any other emergency placement approved by a county agency, including, but not limited to, funding under Sections 11402, 11461.3, and 11461.36.
References
referencesCal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 1522.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 309.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 361.45.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 16504.5.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11400.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 16519.5.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10553.12.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 224.1.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11402.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026