HB 1201 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to guardian ad litem services; creating s.
3	39.8225, F.S.; providing for guardian ad litem programs in
4	each judicial circuit; authorizing contracts with private
5	or public entities for the provision of guardian ad litem
6	services; providing requirements for statewide funding
7	standards; providing an effective date.
8
9	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11	Section 1. Section 39.8225, Florida Statutes, is created
12	to read:
13	39.8225 Statewide system of representation.--
14	(1) Each judicial circuit shall have in operation a
15	program that provides best-interest representation through
16	appointment of a guardian ad litem by the court to represent a
17	child in any child abuse, abandonment, or neglect judicial
18	proceeding, whether civil or criminal.
19	(2) In selecting the entity responsible for providing
20	best-interest representation in each judicial circuit, the state
21	shall have the ability to contract with private or public
22	entities to provide guardian ad litem services. The public or
23	private entity must have appropriate expertise in representing
24	the rights of children taken into custody by the Department of
25	Children and Family Services.
26
27	Statewide funding standards for programs providing guardian ad
28	litem services throughout the state shall be established in a
29	manner allowing sufficient flexibility to each judicial circuit
30	to provide those services and spend contracted funds using a
31	model that best suits the needs of its own community.
32	Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.