Current law requires the appointment of a guardian ad litem for children or youth in dependency and neglect cases. The act requires that client-directed counsel for youth be appointed for children or youth 12 years of age or older to provide specialized client-directed legal representation.
The act prohibits the waiver of a child's or youth's right to counsel in dependency and neglect proceedings. The act also allows a child or youth to be a party in a dependency and neglect proceeding. For a child or youth 12 years of age or older with diminished capacity, a guardian ad litem shall remain in the role and separate counsel for the child or youth must be appointed.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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Statutes affected:
Preamended PA1 (02/18/2022): 13-91-103, 13-91-105, 19-1-103, 19-1-105, 19-1-111, 19-1-115, 19-3-202, 19-3-502, 19-3-602, 19-3-606, 19-3-612, 19-3-702, 19-5-103, 13-1-119.5, 13-92-103, 19-1-304, 19-1-305, 19-1-307, 19-3-201, 19-3-208, 19-3-213, 19-3-217, 19-3-308, 19-3-403, 19-3-705, 19-5-208, 19-5-217, 19-7-101, 19-7-102, 19-7-202, 22-32-138, 26-6-106.5, 26-7-104, 42-2-108
Preamended PA2 (03/17/2022): 13-91-103, 13-91-105, 19-1-103, 19-1-105, 19-1-111, 19-1-115, 19-3-202, 19-3-502, 19-3-602, 19-3-606, 19-3-612, 19-3-702, 19-5-103, 13-1-119.5, 13-92-103, 19-1-304, 19-1-305, 19-1-307, 19-3-201, 19-3-208, 19-3-213, 19-3-217, 19-3-308, 19-3-403, 19-3-705, 19-5-208, 19-5-217, 19-7-101, 19-7-102, 19-7-202, 22-32-138, 26-6-106.5, 26-7-104, 42-2-108
Introduced (01/12/2022): 13-91-103, 13-91-105, 19-1-103, 19-1-105, 19-1-111, 19-1-115, 19-3-202, 19-3-502, 19-3-602, 19-3-606, 19-3-612, 19-3-702, 19-5-103, 13-1-119.5, 13-92-103, 19-1-304, 19-1-305, 19-1-307, 19-3-201, 19-3-208, 19-3-213, 19-3-217, 19-3-308, 19-3-403, 19-3-705, 19-5-208, 19-5-217, 19-7-101, 19-7-102, 19-7-202, 22-32-138, 26-6-106.5, 26-7-104, 42-2-108
Engrossed (02/25/2022): 13-91-103, 13-91-105, 19-1-103, 19-1-105, 19-1-111, 19-1-115, 19-3-202, 19-3-502, 19-3-602, 19-3-606, 19-3-612, 19-3-702, 19-5-103, 13-1-119.5, 13-92-103, 19-1-304, 19-1-305, 19-1-307, 19-3-201, 19-3-208, 19-3-213, 19-3-217, 19-3-308, 19-3-403, 19-3-705, 19-5-208, 19-5-217, 19-7-101, 19-7-102, 19-7-202, 22-32-138, 26-6-106.5, 26-7-104, 42-2-108
Reengrossed (02/28/2022): 13-91-103, 13-91-105, 19-1-103, 19-1-105, 19-1-111, 19-1-115, 19-3-202, 19-3-502, 19-3-602, 19-3-606, 19-3-612, 19-3-702, 19-5-103, 13-1-119.5, 13-92-103, 19-1-304, 19-1-305, 19-1-307, 19-3-201, 19-3-208, 19-3-213, 19-3-217, 19-3-308, 19-3-403, 19-3-705, 19-5-208, 19-5-217, 19-7-101, 19-7-102, 19-7-202, 22-32-138, 26-6-106.5, 26-7-104, 42-2-108
Revised (03/21/2022): 13-91-103, 13-91-105, 19-1-103, 19-1-105, 19-1-111, 19-1-115, 19-3-202, 19-3-502, 19-3-602, 19-3-606, 19-3-612, 19-3-702, 19-5-103, 13-1-119.5, 13-92-103, 19-1-304, 19-1-305, 19-1-307, 19-3-201, 19-3-208, 19-3-213, 19-3-217, 19-3-308, 19-3-403, 19-3-705, 19-5-208, 19-5-217, 19-7-101, 19-7-102, 19-7-202, 22-32-138, 26-6-106.5, 26-7-104, 42-2-108
Rerevised (03/22/2022): 13-91-103, 13-91-105, 19-1-103, 19-1-105, 19-1-111, 19-1-115, 19-3-202, 19-3-502, 19-3-602, 19-3-606, 19-3-612, 19-3-702, 19-5-103, 13-1-119.5, 13-92-103, 19-1-304, 19-1-305, 19-1-307, 19-3-201, 19-3-208, 19-3-213, 19-3-217, 19-3-308, 19-3-403, 19-3-705, 19-5-208, 19-5-217, 19-7-101, 19-7-102, 19-7-202, 22-32-138, 26-6-106.5, 26-7-104, 42-2-108
Final Act (03/30/2022): 13-91-103, 13-91-105, 19-1-103, 19-1-105, 19-1-111, 19-1-115, 19-3-202, 19-3-502, 19-3-602, 19-3-606, 19-3-612, 19-3-702, 19-5-103, 13-1-119.5, 13-92-103, 19-1-304, 19-1-305, 19-1-307, 19-3-201, 19-3-208, 19-3-213, 19-3-217, 19-3-308, 19-3-403, 19-3-705, 19-5-208, 19-5-217, 19-7-101, 19-7-102, 19-7-202, 22-32-138, 26-6-106.5, 26-7-104, 42-2-108
Signed Act (04/13/2022): 13-91-103, 13-91-105, 19-1-103, 19-1-105, 19-1-111, 19-1-115, 19-3-202, 19-3-502, 19-3-602, 19-3-606, 19-3-612, 19-3-702, 19-5-103, 13-1-119.5, 13-92-103, 19-1-304, 19-1-305, 19-1-307, 19-3-201, 19-3-208, 19-3-213, 19-3-217, 19-3-308, 19-3-403, 19-3-705, 19-5-208, 19-5-217, 19-7-101, 19-7-102, 19-7-202, 22-32-138, 26-6-106.5, 26-7-104, 42-2-108