SB 1285
Juvenile court: procedure.
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Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
In Floor Process
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Bill overview
This bill clarifies that a juvenile court dismissal under Section 782 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is treated as if the original petition never occurred. It prohibits future negative consequences for a minor based on a dismissed adjudication and specifies that a dismissal includes both dismissal of the petition and the setting aside of any findings. The bill also reaffirms the intent of previous legislation regarding these dismissals and clarifies the relationship between dismissals and sealing of records.
Key provisions
- A dismissed juvenile petition is treated as if it never occurred, preventing future adverse consequences for the minor.
- The bill prohibits future inquiries or actions based on a dismissed adjudication.
- A dismissal of a sustained petition is considered equivalent to both dismissal of the petition and the setting aside of any findings.
- The court must consider mitigating circumstances when deciding whether to dismiss a petition.
- The bill clarifies that dismissal under Section 782 does not automatically seal records.
- It reaffirms the legislative intent of previous laws regarding dismissals and sealing.
- The bill specifies that a dismissal does not relieve a minor of restitution obligations.
Who is affected
- Juveniles
- Juvenile Court Judges
- Parents of Juveniles
- Defense Attorneys
- Child Welfare Agencies
Notable changes
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SB1285:v97#DOCUMENT
Bill Start
| Amended IN Assembly June 11, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate April 16, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 1285
| Introduced by Senator Durazo (Coauthors: Senators Becker, Caballero, Cortese, and Reyes) |
| February 20, 2026 |
An act to amend Section 782 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to juveniles.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1285, as amended, Durazo. Juvenile court: procedure.
Existing law authorizes a judge of the juvenile court in which a petition was filed to dismiss the petition, or set aside the findings and dismiss the petition, if the court finds that the interests of justice and the welfare of the minor require that dismissal, or if the court finds that the minor is not in need of treatment or rehabilitation, regardless of whether the minor is, at the time of the order, a ward or dependent child of the court.
This bill would clarify that an adjudication dismissed pursuant to that provision be deemed to have not occurred and prohibit a person from suffering any future adverse questions based on an adjudication dismissed pursuant to that provision. The bill would specify that a dismissal of a sustained petition pursuant to that provision is deemed to include both dismissal of a petition and a setting aside of any findings.
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.
The The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) The intent of the Legislature in enacting this act is to codify the holding of In re David T. (2017) 13 Cal.App.5th 866. 866 and People v. Haro (2013) 221 Cal.App.4th 718, and to disapprove the holdings of In re Taylor C. (2024) 101 Cal.App.5th 492 and In re Parker B. (2026) 120 Cal.App.5th 382.
(b) The Legislature reaffirms that once a juvenile court dismisses a juvenile petition pursuant to Section 782 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the petition is effectively erased as if the subject of the petition had never suffered it in the initial instance. People v. Haro (2013) 221 Cal.App.4th 718.(c) In adding subdivision (e) to Section 782 of the Welfare and Institutions Code via Assembly Bill 2629 of the 2021–22 Regular Session (Chapter 970 of the Statutes of 2022), the Legislature intended to reaffirm existing law that dismissal pursuant to Section 782 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and sealing of records pursuant to applicable sealing statutes, are related yet distinct procedures. The Legislature did not intend to modify or reduce the relief afforded by a dismissal granted pursuant to Section 782 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to change the character of that section as a general dismissal statute, or to alter established law holding that a dismissal under Section 782 of the Welfare and Institutions Code removes restrictions on sealing that may be contained in the sealing statutes. See In re David T. (2017) 13 Cal.App.5th 866, 878.
SEC. 2.
Section 782 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:
782.
(a) (1) A judge of the juvenile court in which a petition was filed or that has taken jurisdiction of a case pursuant to Section 750 may dismiss the petition, or may set aside the findings and dismiss the petition, if the court finds that the interests of justice and the welfare of the person who is the subject of the petition require that dismissal, or if it finds that they are not in need of treatment or rehabilitation. The court has jurisdiction to order dismissal or setting aside of the findings and dismissal regardless of whether the person who is the subject of the petition is, at the time of the order, a ward or dependent child of the court. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to require the court to maintain jurisdiction over a person who is the subject of a petition between the time the court’s jurisdiction over that person terminates and the point at which their petition is dismissed.
(2) (A) When exercising its discretion under paragraph (1) at the time the court terminates jurisdiction or at any time thereafter, the court shall consider and afford great weight to evidence offered by a person to prove mitigating circumstances are present, including, but not limited to, satisfactory completion of a term of probation, that rehabilitation has been attained to the satisfaction of the court, that dismissal of the petition would not endanger public safety, or that the underlying offense is connected to mental illness, prior victimization, or childhood trauma. Proof of the presence of one or more mitigating circumstances weighs greatly in favor of dismissing the petition.
(B) “Satisfactory completion of a term of probation” shall be interpreted consistent with subdivision (a) of Section 786.
(C) “Rehabilitation has been attained to the satisfaction of the court” shall be interpreted consistent with subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 781.
(D) “Mental illness,” “childhood trauma,” “prior victimization,” and “endanger public safety” have the same meanings as defined in Section 1385 of the Penal Code.
(E) The great weight standard set forth in this paragraph shall not be applicable in cases where an individual has been convicted in criminal court of a serious or violent felony.
(F) For the purposes of subparagraph (E), a “serious or violent felony” means any offense defined in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5, or in subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7, of the Penal Code.
(G) The absence of the great weight standard under the circumstances described in this paragraph shall not affect the court’s authority under paragraph (1).
(b) The reasons for a decision under this section shall be stated 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 in any case in which the proceedings are not being recorded electronically or reported by a court reporter.
(c) The court has authority to exercise discretion pursuant to subdivision (a) at any time after the filing of the petition.
(d) The court has authority to exercise discretion pursuant to subdivision (a) regardless of whether a petition was sustained at trial, by admission or plea agreement.
(e) Dismissal of a petition, or setting aside of the findings and dismissal of a petition, pursuant to this section, after the person was declared a ward, does not alone constitute a sealing of records as defined in Section 781 or 786. Any unsealed records pertaining to the dismissed petition may be accessed, inspected, or used by the court, the probation department, the prosecuting attorney, or counsel for the minor in juvenile court proceedings commenced by the filing of a new petition alleging the person is a person described by Section 602.
(f) Dismissal of the petition, or setting aside the findings and dismissal of the petition, pursuant to this section does not relieve a person from the obligation to pay unfulfilled victim restitution ordered pursuant to a civil judgment under Section 730.6.
(g) This section is a general dismissal statute. An adjudication dismissed pursuant to this section shall be deemed to have not occurred and a person shall not suffer any future adverse consequences in the future based on an adjudication dismissed pursuant to this section.
(h) A dismissal of a sustained petition pursuant to this section shall be deemed to constitute both a dismissal of the petition and a setting aside of any findings.