AB 1886
Wards: probation.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
In Floor Process
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
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Bill overview
This bill changes the rules for juvenile probation. Currently, minors placed on probation as wards of the court can only remain on probation for 12 months from their last court hearing, with some exceptions. This bill removes that 12-month limit for minors who are under the supervision of a probation officer while in out-of-home placements, such as in a foster home or secure youth treatment facility, and also extends this timeframe for those discharged from such facilities. The bill also clarifies that the court can extend probation, but cannot impose additional conditions during that extended period.
Key provisions
- Removes the 12-month probation limit for minors under probation officer supervision in out-of-home placements.
- Extends probation for minors discharged from secure youth treatment facilities to a period of probation.
- Allows courts to extend probation periods with a hearing and evidence.
- Prohibits imposing new terms or conditions of probation during extended probation periods.
- Clarifies that the bill does not apply to minors in juvenile halls or homes.
- Specifies that the bill applies to minors discharged from secure youth treatment facilities to a period of community probation.
- Addresses the process for terminating probation before the 12-month limit.
- Outlines procedures for complying with Section 607.2 regarding youth committed to secure facilities.
Who is affected
- Minors (ages 12-17)
- Juvenile Courts
- Probation Officers
- Foster Care Providers
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AB1886:v97#DOCUMENT
Bill Start
| Amended IN Senate June 16, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly March 16, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1886
| Introduced by Assembly Member Elhawary |
| February 12, 2026 |
An act to amend Section 602.05 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to juveniles.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1886, as amended, Elhawary. Wards: probation.
Existing law subjects a minor between 12 and 17 years of age, inclusive, who violates any federal, state, or local law or ordinance, who persistently or habitually refuses to obey the reasonable and proper orders or directions of the minor’s parents, guardian, or custodian, or who is beyond the control of that person, who violates an ordinance establishing a curfew or is truant, and a minor under 12 years of age who is alleged to have committed specified serious offenses to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge the minor to be a ward of the court. Existing law authorizes the court to make any reasonable orders for the care, supervision, custody, conduct, maintenance, and support of the ward, including ordering the ward to be on probation without the supervision of the probation officer or ordering the care, custody, and control of the ward to be under the supervision of the probation officer who may place the ward in specified out-of-home placements. Existing law limits to 12 months from the most recent disposition hearing the period of time a ward may remain on probation, except, among other things, the limit does not apply to a ward ordered under the supervision of the probation officer for placement in specified out-of-home placements and a ward who is transferred or discharged from a secure youth treatment facility.
This bill would remove the exclusion of wards that have been ordered to be under the supervision of the probation officer for placement in specified out-of-home placements from the 12-month limitation described above. The bill would also make these provisions applicable to wards who have been discharged from a secure youth treatment facility to a period of probation, or whose commitment to the secure youth treatment facility was set aside. The bill would authorize the court to extend a period of probation to comply with specified provisions, but would prohibit the court from imposing terms and conditions of probation or any other conditions of performance or compliance on the ward during this period of extended jurisdiction.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
It is the intent of the Legislature that youth in out-of-home placements, disproportionately girls and youth of color, be entitled to protections under Section 602.05 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
SEC. 2.
Section 602.05 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:
602.05.
(a) A minor adjudged to be a ward of the court pursuant to Section 601 or 602 who is subject to an order of probation pursuant to Section 727, with or without supervision of the probation officer, shall not remain on probation for a period that exceeds 12 months from the most recent disposition hearing, except as specified in subdivision (b). Nothing in this section shall preclude the court from holding progress review hearings at any point prior to 12 months from the most recent disposition hearing.
(b) A court may extend the probation period after a noticed hearing and upon proof by a preponderance of the evidence that it is in the ward’s and the public’s best interest, consistent with Section 202.
(1) At the noticed hearing, the probation agency shall submit a report to the court detailing the basis for any request to extend probation.
(2) The court shall provide the ward and the prosecuting attorney with the opportunity to present relevant evidence. The court has discretion to receive evidence by testimony, declaration, and other documentary evidence.
(3) In cases in which the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence a basis for extending probation, the court shall state the reasons for the findings orally on the record. The court shall also set forth the reasons in an order entered upon the minutes if requested by either party or when the proceedings are not being recorded electronically or reported by a court reporter.
(4) If the court finds good cause to continue the noticed hearing, probation shall continue until completion of the noticed hearing, provided that continuance shall be for only as long as necessary.
(c) If the court extends probation at the noticed hearing, the court shall schedule and hold subsequent noticed hearings for the ward pursuant to subdivision (b) not less frequently than every six months for the remainder of the wardship period.
(d) This section does not preclude termination of a ward’s probation before the end of a 12-month period.
(e) Prior to terminating jurisdiction over a youth who is described by subdivision (a) of Section 607.2, the court shall comply with the provisions of Section 607.2. The requirement to comply with Section 607.2 shall not be a basis for extending the probation period pursuant to subdivision (b), except if the procedures described in Section 607.2 cannot be completed before the end of the period of probation. The court may maintain jurisdiction beyond the end of the probation period for the purpose of complying with Section 607.2, but shall not impose any terms and conditions of probation or any other conditions of performance or compliance on the ward during this period of extended jurisdiction.
(f) This section does not apply to a ward while serving a custodial commitment to a juvenile hall, juvenile home, ranch, camp, or forestry camp pursuant to Section 730.
(g)(1)This section does not apply to a ward who is committed to a secure youth treatment facility pursuant to Section 875 while the ward has any remaining baseline or modified baseline term, whether the ward remains in the secure youth treatment facility or has been transferred to a less restrictive program pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 875.
(2)This section shall apply to a ward upon discharge to a period of probation supervision in the community pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 875, or upon the commitment being set aside pursuant to Section 779.5.
(g) This section does not apply to any ward who is transferred from a secure youth treatment facility to a less restrictive program pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 875 or to any ward who is discharged from a secure youth treatment facility pursuant to a probation discharge hearing described in subdivision (e) of Section 875.