HB 4358
Establishing pilot program for Public Guardian Ad Litem Services
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House of Delegates
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill establishes a three-year pilot program in West Virginia to create the West Virginia Public Guardian ad Litem Services. The program aims to provide legal representation to children involved in juvenile abuse and neglect proceedings who cannot afford adequate legal counsel. It will utilize a network of public guardian ad litem corporations and establish a Guardian ad Litem Commission to oversee the program’s operations and ensure quality legal assistance for vulnerable children.
Key provisions
- Establishes the West Virginia Public Guardian ad Litem Services as a pilot program.
- Creates a Guardian ad Litem Commission to oversee the program.
- Authorizes the creation of public guardian ad litem corporations in designated circuits.
- Defines key terms related to the program, including ‘eligible client’ and ‘eligible proceeding’.
- Specifies the use of West Virginia Public Defender Service panel attorneys in cases of conflict of interest.
- Requires annual audits of public guardian ad litem corporations’ accounts.
- Establishes a civil immunity for appointed qualified guardian ad litems.
- Requires the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals to select three circuits for the pilot program.
Who is affected
- Children involved in juvenile abuse and neglect proceedings
- Parents of children involved in juvenile abuse and neglect proceedings
- Public Guardian ad Litem Corporations
- West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
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