362.8. (Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 552, Sec. 3.)

(a) At a review hearing where a parent or guardian’s participation in reunification or family maintenance services is considered by the court, including, but not limited to, hearings pursuant to Sections 364, 366.21, 366.22, 366.25, and 388, the parent or guardian shall not be considered to be noncompliant with the court-ordered case plan when the court finds that the parent or guardian is unable to pay for a service or that payment for a service would create an undue financial hardship for the parent or guardian, and the social worker did not provide a comparable free service that was accessible and available to the parent or guardian to comply with the case plan during the period subject to the court’s review.

(b) For purposes of this section, a parent or guardian who qualifies for the services of court-appointed counsel pursuant to Section 317 is presumed to be unable to pay the cost of court-ordered services.