Bill > H1239

This bill mandates that courts appoint a volunteer guardian ad litem (GAL), specifically a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), to represent the best interests of children in all judicial proceedings involving abuse or neglect. CASA advocates, who are trained and operate under the guidelines of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association, will have the same duties as a GAL, including providing independent factual information to the court, advocating for what they believe is in the child's best interest, and monitoring cases to assist the court in determining the child's best interests. These advocates will be notified of all court and administrative review hearings, entitled to attend all proceedings, may be called as witnesses, and will have access to relevant court records and family information, with their appointment subject to judicial discretion and confirmation of proper screening and training by the local CASA program.