Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 307, an officer who takes a minor suspected of being a person described in Section 300 into temporary custody pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 305 may, in a case where he or she deems that it is in the best interest of the minor and the public, take the minor to a community service program for abused or neglected children. Organizations or programs receiving referrals pursuant to this section shall have a contract or an agreement with the county to provide shelter care or counseling. Employees of a program receiving referrals pursuant to this section are “child care custodians” for the purpose of the requirements of Section 11165.7 of the Penal Code. The receiving organization shall take immediate steps to notify the minor’s parent, guardian, or a responsible relative of the place to which the minor was taken.
(Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 913, Sec. 5.)