HB231 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim Hill Representative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Dependency proceedings, juvenile court, attorney to be appointed for a petitioner, respondent parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian to cases in which state has filed a petition, Sec. 12-15-305 am'd.

Description

Under existing law, in a dependency proceeding, a juvenile court, upon request by a petitioner and a finding of indigency, may appoint an attorney to represent the petitioner.

Also under existing law, in a dependency proceeding, the respondent parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian must be informed of his or her right to be represented by counsel and, if the juvenile court determines that he or she is indigent, counsel must be appointed where the respondent parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian is unable for financial reasons to retain his or her own counsel.

This bill would limit a juvenile court's authority in a dependency proceeding to appoint an attorney for the petitioner, respondent parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian to cases in which the state has filed a petition or is otherwise a party to the proceeding.

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Subjects

Court, Juvenile