CA AB1446

Changes the threshold for requiring periodic court review of detained dependent children from more than 15 days to more than 5 consecutive calendar days in emergency shelter care, temporary shelter care facilities, or transitional shelter care facilities.

Reduces the frequency of required periodic review hearings from at least every 15 days to at least every 3 days for children in emergency or temporary shelter care.

Requires courts to review social worker efforts to locate placements consistent with the case plan and to identify and locate adult relatives of the dependent child or nonminor dependent during each periodic review.

Allows courts to conduct periodic review hearings as either appearance or non-appearance hearings at the court's discretion.

Exempts cases from periodic review requirements if an appropriate placement has been identified and required assessments are in process to place the child within 5 days, though any party may request a hearing.