Adoption: state court jurisdiction.

Senator Menjivar's adoption jurisdiction bill expands California courts' authority to oversee adoption proceedings for minors born in the state. The legislation modifies the Family Code to allow state courts to handle adoptions in two additional scenarios: when no legal proceedings are needed to make the minor available for adoption, and when such proceedings are initiated within California.

The measure maintains existing jurisdictional requirements, which permit California courts to oversee adoptions when the minor has lived in-state with a parent, guardian, or prospective adoptive parent for at least six consecutive months, or when the adoption agency is located in California and the parties have substantial connections to the state. The bill preserves current provisions regarding emergency jurisdiction in cases of child abandonment or abuse, and clarifies that these changes do not affect jurisdiction under the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.

For cases involving custody proceedings in other states or tribal courts, the legislation retains requirements that California courts must meet specific conditions before exercising adoption jurisdiction. These include verification that the other state's court lacks jurisdiction or has declined to exercise it, and confirmation that California courts have proper jurisdiction under the amended criteria.