Honorable Jim Jackson, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3311 by Carter (relating to the duty of an attorney ad litem appointed for a child to meet with the child or individual with whom the child resides before each court hearing.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Family Code to require that the meeting before each court hearing between an attorney ad litem appointed for a child and the child or an individual with whom the child resides, must take place a sufficient time before the hearing to allow the ad litem to prepare for the hearing in accordance with the client’s interests. The meeting must take place in a private setting that allows for confidential communications between the attorney ad litem and the child or individual with whom the child resides. To the extent the bill would amend procedures for ad litems, no significant impact on judicial workloads or fiscal implication to the state is anticipated. The bill would take effect September 1, 2011.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council