CA AB273

Establishes the "Luke Madrigal Act" requiring social workers and probation officers to engage in ongoing and intensive due diligence efforts to locate and stabilize children absent from foster care, including requesting protective custody warrants within 24 hours and contacting known associates at least every 7 days.

Mandates juvenile courts schedule hearings within 10 court days when a child is reported absent from foster care, with notice to parents, guardians, attorneys, tribes, and other interested parties at least 5 court days before the hearing.

Requires courts to periodically review cases of missing children at least every 30 calendar days until the child returns to care, and to assess the county's compliance with due diligence efforts and the continuing appropriateness of placement.

Defines "absent from foster care" as when a child's whereabouts are unknown to the county or when located in an unapproved court location that may pose risk, and establishes specific due diligence activities including social media searches and physical checks of known locations.

Prohibits information disclosed by missing children from being used to terminate dependency jurisdiction, file delinquency petitions, or detain the child, except for determining treatment needs and developing supportive case plans.