Senate Bill 296 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Will BarfootSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Juvenile courts; appointment of duties and limitations of volunteer advocates in certain cases provided, state entity supporting local programs established, responsibilities of local programs provided

Summary

SB296 would create a formal framework for unpaid volunteer advocates in Alabama's juvenile courts, detailing their duties, record access, and the roles of a state entity and local programs.

What This Bill Does

The bill would authorize juvenile courts to appoint unpaid volunteer advocates in certain dependency and termination-of-parental-rights cases to help protect the child's best interests. Volunteers must complete screening, pre-service training, and take an oath, and they would serve without pay. They would have clearly defined duties (e.g., maintaining boundaries, protecting confidentiality, reviewing records, attending hearings, preparing reports, recommending services, coordinating with partners, and visiting the child at least every 30 days) and would be limited from performing duties of DHR or guardians ad litem, giving legal advice, or handling non-dependency/TPR cases. The bill would establish a state entity to oversee local programs, require minimum standards and training curricula, and require local programs to operate as nonprofits with an executive director and proper governance and funding oversight.

Who It Affects

• Children involved in dependency and termination-of-parental-rights cases who could receive a court-appointed unpaid volunteer advocate to help assess needs, advocate for services, and participate in hearings.
• Local volunteer advocate programs and the state entity, which would gain new oversight, standards, training requirements, governance, and funding responsibilities, including nonprofit membership and executive director requirements.

Key Provisions

• Adds Section 12-15-304.1 to establish duties and limits for unpaid volunteer advocates in dependency and termination-of-parental-rights cases.
• Permits juvenile courts to grant volunteers access to records, reports, information, and hearing notices related to the case.
• Defines the 'state entity' as the nonprofit that supports local programs and requires development of minimum standards and training curricula.
• Requires local programs to operate as nonprofits, join the state entity, have an executive director, and ensure proper governance, staffing, training, and funding oversight.
• Outlines volunteers' duties (boundaries, confidentiality, reporting abuse/danger, reviewing case materials, attending hearings, preparing court reports, recommending services, monitoring plans, and monthly in-person contact with the child).
• Prohibits volunteers from performing Department of Human Resources or guardian ad litem duties, working on non-dependency/TPR cases, or giving legal advice; restricts gifts/money to/from the child or family.
• Provides for access to records through court orders, notice of hearings to the local program, and civil liability immunity for volunteers under the Volunteer Service Act.
• Requires the state entity to develop minimum standards and in-service training curricula and to ensure ongoing education and secure record-keeping by local programs.
• Effective date: June 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Courts & Judges