This e-mail is to inform you a “Special Cycle” proposal has been posted to the California Courts web site, at http://www.courts.ca.gov/policyadmin-invitationstocomment.htm

Civil and Small Claims

SP22-08

Rules and Forms: Name and Gender Change Forms for Minors to Implement Assembly Bill 218 and Assembly Bill 421

Summary: The Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee is proposing revisions and additions to Judicial Council forms and the revocation of one form used to request recognition of a change of gender and change of name. Proposed forms implementing statutory changes in Assembly Bill 218 (Stats. 2021, ch. 577) were circulated for comment between April and May 2022. Among other things, AB 218 made significant changes to requirements for petitions for recognition of gender change for minors (removing the requirement for consent by, or notice to, a minor’s parents) and added a new category of petitioners who may make such petitions on behalf of minors, placing certain requirements on them.

Shortly after comment on the proposed forms closed, the Legislature enacted Assembly Bill 421 (Stats. 2022, ch. 40), urgency legislation that modifies AB 218’s provisions in significant ways. Because AB 421’s amendments immediately went into effect upon signing by the Governor, they need to be incorporated in the proposed forms before the forms go into effect in January 2023. The proposed forms for minors’ petitions have all been further revised to reflect these statutory changes, and have been reorganized to make them clearer.

Deadline: Comments must be submitted by Monday, September 19, 2022 at, 5:00 PM (Pacific Time)

Judicial Council of California

455 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102-3688

415-865-7957, Fax 415-865-4391, benita.downs@jud.ca.gov 

www.courts.ca.gov