Volunteer participation in guardian ad litem program clarified.

A bill for an act

relating to civil law; clarifying volunteer participation in guardian ad litem program;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 480.35, subdivision 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 480.35, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Duties and responsibilities.

(a) The State Guardian Ad Litem Board shall

create and administer a statewide, independent guardian ad litem program
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that includes

volunteers and paid staff as guardians
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to advocate for the best interests of children, minor

parents, and incompetent adults in juvenile and family court cases as defined in Rule 901.01

of the Rules of Guardian Ad Litem Procedure in Juvenile and Family Court matters.

(b) The board shall:

(1) approve and recommend to the legislature a budget for the board and the guardian

ad litem program;

(2) establish procedures for distribution of funding under this section to the guardian ad

litem program; and

(3) establish guardian ad litem program standards, administrative policies, procedures,

and rules consistent with statute, rules of court, and laws that affect a volunteer or employee

guardian ad litem's work, including the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act under

sections
260.751
to
260.835
; the federal Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 under United

States Code, title 42, section 662 and amendments; and the federal Indian Child Welfare

Act under United States Code, title 25, section 1901 et seq.

(c) The board may:

(1) adopt standards, policies, or procedures necessary to ensure quality advocacy for the

best interests of children; and

(2) propose statutory changes to the legislature and rule changes to the supreme court

that are in the best interests of children and the operation of the guardian ad litem program.