Renee J. v. Superior Court

*739Opinion

WERDEGAR, J.

This case calls upon us to construe Welfare and Institutions Code section 361.5,1 which governs orders for reunification services in child dependency proceedings. Pursuant to subdivision (a) of that statute, whenever a child is removed from a parent’s or guardian’s custody, with certain exceptions not applicable here, the juvenile court shall order the social worker to provide services to the child and the child’s parent or guardian. Subdivision (b) of the statute, however, provides that reunification services need not be offered when the court finds, by clear and…