TO:	Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB2049 by Menéndez (Relating to guardians ad litem for children who are in the juvenile justice system and the child protective services system.), As Introduced

The bill would amend the Family Code to provide that a juvenile court may appoint the guardian ad litem under Family Code Chapter 107 for a child in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship (SAPCR) filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to serve as the guardian ad litem for the child in a proceeding under Title 3 of the Family Code. The bill would prevent guardians ad litem from investigating any charges involving the child that are pending with the juvenile court.

The bill would amend the Family Code to provide that the court may appoint the person appointed as guardian ad litem for the child under Family Code Section 51.11 to also serve as the guardian ad litem under Section 107.011. The bill would prevent the guardian ad litem from investigating any pending criminal or juvenile charges involving the child.

Based on the analysis of the Office of Court Administration and the Department of Family and Protective Services, it is assumed that duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the bill could be accomplished utilizing existing resources. In addition, no significant fiscal impact to the state court system is anticipated with the implementation of the bill.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.