Section 175 Of Part 3. Indian Children From California Family Law Code >> Division 1. >> Part 3.
175
. (a) The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(1) There is no resource that is more vital to the continued
existence and integrity of recognized Indian tribes than their
children, and the State of California has an interest in protecting
Indian children who are members of, or are eligible for membership
in, an Indian tribe. The state is committed to protecting the
essential tribal relations and best interest of an Indian child by
promoting practices, in accordance with the Indian Child Welfare Act
(25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.) and other applicable law, designed to
prevent the child's involuntary out-of-home placement and, whenever
the placement is necessary or ordered, by placing the child, whenever
possible, in a placement that reflects the unique values of the
child's tribal culture and is best able to assist the child in
establishing, developing, and maintaining a political, cultural, and
social relationship with the child's tribe and tribal community.
(2) It is in the interest of an Indian child that the child's
membership in the child's Indian tribe and connection to the tribal
community be encouraged and protected, regardless of any of the
following:
(A) Whether the child is in the physical custody of an Indian
parent or Indian custodian at the commencement of a child custody
proceeding.
(B) Whether the parental rights of the child's parents have been
terminated.
(C) Where the child has resided or been domiciled.
(b) In all Indian child custody proceedings the court shall
consider all of the findings contained in subdivision (a), strive to
promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families,
comply with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, and seek to protect
the best interest of the child. Whenever an Indian child is removed
from a foster care home or institution, guardianship, or adoptive
placement for the purpose of further foster care, guardianship, or
adoptive placement, placement of the child shall be in accordance
with the Indian Child Welfare Act.
(c) A determination by an Indian tribe that an unmarried person,
who is under the age of 18 years, is either (1) a member of an Indian
tribe or (2) eligible for membership in an Indian tribe and a
biological child of a member of an Indian tribe shall constitute a
significant political affiliation with the tribe and shall require
the application of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act to the
proceedings.
(d) In any case in which this code or other applicable state or
federal law provides a higher standard of protection to the rights of
the parent or Indian custodian of an Indian child, or the Indian
child's tribe, than the rights provided under the Indian Child
Welfare Act, the court shall apply the higher standard.
(e) Any Indian child, the Indian child's tribe, or the parent or
Indian custodian from whose custody the child has been removed, may
petition the court to invalidate an action in an Indian child custody
proceeding for foster care, guardianship placement, or termination
of parental rights if the action violated Sections 1911, 1912, and
1913 of the Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.).
Nothing in this section is intended to prohibit, restrict, or
otherwise limit any rights under Section 1914 of the Indian Child
Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.).