Assembly Bill 129, sponsored by the Judicial Council and passed by the Legislature in 2004, is intended to improve the handling of cases in which delinquency and dependency intersect and to help increase access to appropriate resources and services for children in a holistic and timely manner. California counties may choose to develop a local dual-jurisdiction protocol to designate certain children as having dual status. Counties may also enhance and build on protocols they have already developed under Welfare and Institutions Code section 241.1. The first protocol was adopted by Riverside County in October 2005.

Each county's probation department and child welfare department, in consultation with the presiding judge of its juvenile court, may develop a written protocol permitting a child who meets specified criteria to be designated as both a dependent child and a ward of the juvenile court. The legislation requires the Judicial Council to prepare an evaluation of the implementation of these protocols two years from the time the first case is deemed dual status. All counties that implemented protocols were required to collect basic descriptive data about the cases.

Staff of the AOC, CFCC have provided training on Assembly Bill 129 and dual-jurisdiction issues in California and nationwide, and continue to provide technical assistance to local courts for issues related to AB 129 dual-jurisdiction protocols.

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