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 § 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.)