(a) Notwithstanding Section 319, a child who is the subject of a petition under Section 300 and who is 6 to 12 years of age, inclusive, may be placed in a community care facility licensed as a group home for children, a short-term residential therapeutic program, a community treatment facility, or a temporary shelter care facility, as defined in § 1530.8 of the Health and Safety Code, only when the court finds that placement is necessary to secure a complete and adequate evaluation, including placement planning and transition time. The placement period in a group home for children, a short-term residential therapeutic program, or a community treatment facility shall not exceed 60 days unless a case plan has been developed and the need for additional time is documented in the case plan and has been approved by a deputy director or director of the county child welfare department or an assistant chief probation officer or chief probation officer of the county probation department. The placement period in a temporary shelter care facility shall not exceed 10 days.

(b) For a placement made on or after October 1, 2021, each placement of a child in a short-term residential therapeutic program pursuant to this section shall comply with the requirements of Section 4096 and be reviewed by the court pursuant to Section 361.22.

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(c) For a placement made on or after July 1, 2022, each placement of a child in a community treatment facility pursuant to this section shall comply with the requirements of Section 4096 and be reviewed by the court pursuant to Section 361.22.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 50, Sec. 15. (SB 187) Effective June 30, 2022.)