2009 California Welfare and Institutions Code - Section 18973 :: Article 6. Citizen Review Panels

18973.  (a) Each citizen review panel established pursuant to
Section 5106a(c) of Title 42 of the United States Code shall examine
the policies, procedures, and practices of state and local child
protective services agencies and, where appropriate, specific cases,
to evaluate the extent to which the agencies are effectively
discharging their child protection responsibilities in accordance
with the state child and family services plan and the child
protection standards set forth under Section 5106a(b) of Title 42 of
the United States Code, and with relevant sections of this code and
the Penal Code.
   (b) A citizen review panel may review the extent to which the
state child protective services system is coordinated with the foster
care and adoption programs established under Part E of Title IV of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 670 et seq.).
   (c) A panel may examine any other criteria its members consider
important to ensure the protection of children.
   (d) Each panel shall be composed of volunteer members who are
broadly representative of the community in which a panel is
established, including members who have expertise in the prevention
and treatment of child abuse and neglect, private citizens, former
consumers of services, court-appointed special advocates, foster
parents, children's attorneys, law enforcement personnel, health and
mental health professionals, substance abuse professionals,
representatives from elementary and secondary education,
representatives from higher education, mandated reporters, and
representatives of tribal governments.
   (e) The members and staff of a citizen review panel may not
disclose to any person or government official any identifying
information about any specific child protection case that is provided
to the panel.
   (f) Nothing in this section shall preclude a panel from releasing
any information provided to the panel that will permit the panel to
inform the public, a county child welfare services agency, a county
board of supervisors, and other relevant agency concerning the panel'
s progress, findings, and recommendations, if the information does
not contain identifying information about any specific child
protection case.
   (g) A panel shall attempt to obtain case information that is free
of data that reveals the identity of the recipients of service.
   (h) A violation of subdivision (e) may be punishable by a civil
fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500).