Bill > HB2035

This bill establishes a three-year pilot program called the West Virginia Public Guardian ad Litem Services to provide legal representation for children in juvenile abuse and neglect proceedings. The program will be implemented in three judicial circuits selected by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, with the goal of ensuring high-quality legal assistance for children who cannot afford counsel. The bill creates a Guardian ad Litem Commission to oversee the program, which will include representatives from the legal community, child advocacy groups, and the judicial system. The pilot program will begin on July 1, 2025, and will create public guardian ad litem corporations in selected circuits to employ full-time and part-time attorneys specifically dedicated to representing children in eligible court proceedings. The program includes detailed provisions for governance, funding, and operation, such as establishing an executive director, creating a board of directors for each corporation, and setting strict guidelines for attorney conduct and compensation. The bill emphasizes the importance of providing legal representation to vulnerable children and aims to explore innovative approaches to delivering legal services in child abuse and neglect cases, with the potential to inform future legislative action based on the pilot program's experiences.

Budget and Finance, Justice

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=2035&year=2025&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill