Bill > HB4358

This bill establishes a three-year pilot program in West Virginia for Public Guardian ad Litem Services, aiming to provide legal representation for children in juvenile abuse and neglect proceedings, similar to how public defenders serve adults. A "guardian ad litem" is a person appointed by a court to represent the interests of a minor or incapacitated person in a legal case. The program will operate in up to three locations, with the Supreme Court of Appeals selecting one rural county, one urban county, and one "special needs county" (defined by factors like case backlogs or socioeconomic depression) to host the pilot. An executive agency, the West Virginia Public Guardian ad Litem Services, will oversee the program, and a Guardian ad Litem Commission, composed of judges, lawyers, and advocates, will advise on policies and procedures. The program is set to begin providing services on October 1, 2026, and will expire on June 30, 2029, unless extended by the Legislature.

Justice

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4358&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill