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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to guardians ad litem; amending s. 61.402,

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F.S.; authorizing a person affiliated with a not-for-

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profit legal aid organization to serve as a guardian ad

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litem under certain circumstances; requiring that such

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person undergo a security background investigation;

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providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Section 61.402, Florida Statutes, is amended to

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read:

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     61.402  Qualifications of guardians ad litem.--A guardian ad

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litem must be either a person citizen certified by the Guardian

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Ad Litem Program to act in family law cases, a person certified

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by a not-for-profit legal aid organization as defined in s.

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68.096 if there are no allegations of child abuse, neglect, or

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abandonment, or an attorney who is a member in good standing of

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The Florida Bar. Prior to certifying a guardian ad litem to be

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appointed under this chapter, the Guardian Ad Litem Program or

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the legal aid organization, as appropriate, must conduct a

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security background investigation as provided in s. 39.821.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.