In Re Jason

229 Cal.App.3d 1168 (1991) 280 Cal. Rptr. 562 In re JASON V. et al., Persons Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law.

KERN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

EARL APPLEGATE et al., Objectors and Appellants.

Docket No. F014131. Court of Appeals of California, Fifth District.

May 1, 1991. [1169] COUNSEL

Rachel Lederman, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Objectors and Appellants.

B.C. Barmann, County Counsel, and Marvin R. Coston, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

S. Clay Bedford, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Minors.

[1170] OPINION

THAXTER, J.

(1a) We decide here that Welfare and Institutions Code[1] section 903, imposing liability for costs of supporting a minor ordered to out-of-home placement by the juvenile court, does not extend to legal guardians.

STATEMENT OF CASE

Because this appeal raises a single issue, requiring construction of a statutory provision, we need only give a brief statement of the proceedings below and relevant facts.

The juvenile court, after hearings, found that minors Jason V. and Christina J. were persons described by section 300. The minors' legal guardians were identified as their maternal aunt, Erline Applegate, and her husband Earl. As part of its dispositional orders, the court directed that the minors remain placed in foster care outside the guardians' home. Over the Applegates' objection the court ordered that the Applegates reimburse Kern County in the amount of $100 per month per minor as contributions to the minors' support.