California Welfare And Institutions Code Section 903.45

(a) The board of supervisors may designate a county financial evaluation officer pursuant to Section 27750 of the Government Code to make financial evaluations of parental liability for reimbursement pursuant to Sections 207.2, 903, 903.1, 903.2, 903.25, 903.3, and 903.5 and other reimbursable costs allowed by law, as set forth in this section. (b) In any county where a board of supervisors has designated a county financial evaluation officer, the juvenile court shall, at the close of the disposition hearing, order any person liable for the cost of support, pursuant to Section 903, the cost of legal services as provided for in Section 903.1 or probation costs as provided for in Section 903.2, or any other reimbursable costs allowed under this code, to appear before the financial evaluation officer for a financial evaluation of his or her ability to pay those costs; and if the responsible person is not present at the disposition hearing, the court shall cite him or her to appear for such a financial evaluation. In the case of a parent, guardian, or other person assessed for the costs of transport, food, shelter, or care of a minor under Section 207.2 or 903.25, the juvenile court shall, upon request of the county probation department, order the appearance of the parent, guardian, or other person before the financial evaluation officer for a financial evaluation of his or her ability to pay the costs assessed. If the county financial evaluation officer determines that a person so responsible has the ability to pay all or part of the costs, the county financial evaluation officer shall petition the court for an order requiring the person to pay that sum to the county. In evaluating a person`s ability to pay under this section, the county financial evaluation officer and the court shall take into consideration the family`s income, the necessary obligations of the family, and the number of persons dependent upon this income. Any person appearing for a financial evaluation shall have the right to dispute the county financial evaluation officer`s determination, in which case he or she shall be entitled to a hearing before the juvenile court. The county financial evaluation officer at the time of the financial evaluation shall advise such a person of his or her right to a hearing and of his or her rights pursuant to subdivision (c). At the hearing, any person so responsible for costs shall be entitled to have, but shall not be limited to, the opportunity to be heard in person, to present witnesses and other documentary evidence, to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses, to disclosure of the evidence against him or her, and to receive a written statement of the findings of the court. The person shall have the right to be represented by counsel, and, when the person is unable to afford counsel, the right to appointed counsel. If the court determines that the person has the ability to pay all or part of the costs, including the costs of any counsel appointed to represent the person at the hearing, the court shall set the amount to be reimbursed and order him or her to pay that sum to the county in a manner in which the court believes reasonable and compatible with the person`s financial ability. If the person or persons, after having been ordered to appear before the county financial evaluation officer, have been given proper notice and fail to appear as ordered, the county financial evaluation officer shall recommend to the court that he, she, or they be ordered to pay the full amount of the costs. Proper notice to him, her, or them shall contain all of the following: (1) That he, she, or they have a right to a statement of the costs as soon as it is available. (2) His, her, or their procedural rights under Section 27755 of the Government Code. (3) The time limit within which his, her, or their appearance is required. (4) A warning that if he, she, or they fail to appear before the county financial evaluation officer, the officer will recommend that the court order him, her, or them to pay the costs in full. If the county financial evaluation officer determines that the person or persons have the ability to pay all or a portion of these costs, with or without terms, and he, she, or they concur in this determination and agree to the terms of payments, the county financial evaluation officer, upon his or her written evaluation and the person`s or persons` written agreement, shall petition the court for an order requiring him, her, or them to pay that sum to the county in a manner which is reasonable and compatible with his, her, or their financial ability. This order may be granted without further notice to the person or persons, provided a copy of the order is served on him, her, or them by mail. However, if the county financial evaluation officer cannot reach an agreement with the person or persons with respect to either the liability for the costs, the amount of the costs, his, her, or their ability to pay the same, or the terms of payment, the matter shall be deemed in dispute and referred by the county financial evaluation officer back to the court for a hearing. (c) At any time prior to the satisfaction of a judgment entered pursuant to this section, a person against whom the judgment was entered may petition the rendering court to modify or vacate the judgment on the basis of a change in circumstances relating to his or her ability to pay the judgment. (d) Execution may be issued on the order in the same manner as on a judgment in a civil action, including any balance remaining unpaid at the termination of the court`s jurisdiction over the minor.