Bill > HB570

This bill amends existing Alabama law to further define the duties of a guardian ad litem (GAL) in dependency and termination of parental rights proceedings, ensuring the GAL's primary responsibility is to protect the child's best interests. The GAL will now be required to meet with the child and their foster parents before every court hearing and when significant events or emergencies occur, unless impracticable, and must explain court proceedings to the child in an understandable manner. The bill expands the GAL's investigative duties to include face-to-face meetings to assess the child's well-being, ongoing communication with custodians, and a thorough review of various reports and records such as Department of Human Resources reports, foster parent reports, educational plans, and medical records. Additionally, the GAL must actively participate in developing and negotiating individualized service plans and court orders, conduct ongoing case reviews to promote the child's best interests and timely case resolution, and advocate for appropriate services, including trauma-informed counseling and training for parents and foster parents. The GAL is also required to attend and fully participate in all dependency hearings, including examining witnesses and filing necessary legal documents. Before appointment, all GALs must complete appropriate training, and the bill clarifies that trained volunteers can be appointed in addition to GALs, and a single GAL can represent multiple children of the same parent or even an incapacitated parent and their child.

Justice

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