House
File
2219
-
Introduced
HOUSE
FILE
2219
BY
COMMITTEE
ON
JUDICIARY
(SUCCESSOR
TO
HF
705)
(SUCCESSOR
TO
HSB
242)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
relating
to
the
responsibilities
of
a
guardian
ad
litem
1
for
a
minor
child.
2
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
3
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2219
Section
1.
Section
232.2,
subsection
22,
paragraph
b,
Code
1
2020,
is
amended
to
read
as
follows:
2
b.
(1)
Unless
otherwise
enlarged
or
circumscribed
by
a
3
court
or
juvenile
court
having
jurisdiction
over
the
child
or
4
by
operation
of
law,
the
duties
of
a
guardian
ad
litem
with
5
respect
to
a
child
shall
include
the
following:
6
(1)
(a)
Conducting
in-person
interviews
with
the
child,
7
if
the
child’s
age
is
appropriate
for
the
interview,
and
8
interviewing
each
parent,
guardian,
or
other
person
having
9
custody
of
the
child,
if
authorized
by
counsel.
10
(2)
(b)
Conducting
interviews
with
the
child,
if
the
11
child’s
age
is
appropriate
for
the
interview,
prior
to
any
12
court-ordered
hearing.
13
(3)
(c)
Visiting
the
home,
residence,
or
both
home
and
14
residence
of
the
child
and
any
prospective
home
or
residence
of
15
the
child,
including
each
time
placement
is
changed.
16
(4)
(d)
Interviewing
any
person
providing
medical,
mental
17
health,
social,
educational,
or
other
services
to
the
child,
18
before
any
hearing
referred
to
in
subparagraph
(2).
19
(5)
(e)
Obtaining
firsthand
knowledge,
if
possible,
of
the
20
facts,
circumstances,
and
parties
involved
in
the
matter
in
21
which
the
person
is
appointed
guardian
ad
litem.
22
(6)
(f)
Attending
any
hearings
in
the
matter
in
which
the
23
person
is
appointed
as
the
guardian
ad
litem.
24
(7)
(g)
If
the
child
is
required
to
have
a
transition
plan
25
developed
in
accordance
with
the
child’s
case
permanency
plan
26
and
subject
to
review
and
approval
of
a
transition
committee
27
under
section
235.7
,
assisting
the
transition
committee
in
28
development
of
the
transition
plan.
29
(h)
Filing
a
report
with
the
court
prior
to
any
30
dispositional
hearing,
permanency
hearing,
or
review
hearing.
31
(2)
The
court
shall
have
the
discretion
to
require
the
32
guardian
ad
litem
to
perform
any
other
duties
which
the
court
33
deems
necessary
to
protect
the
best
interest
of
the
child.
34
EXPLANATION
35
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2219
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
1
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
2
This
bill
relates
to
the
responsibilities
of
guardian
ad
3
litems
for
children.
4
Code
section
232.2
provides
duties
for
guardian
ad
litems
5
for
children
in
juvenile
delinquency,
child
in
need
of
6
assistance,
and
dissolution
of
marriage
proceedings.
The
bill
7
amends
current
law
to
specify
a
guardian
ad
litem
shall
file
8
a
report
with
the
court
prior
to
any
dispositional
hearing,
9
permanency
hearing,
or
review
hearing.
10
The
bill
provides
that
the
court
shall
have
the
discretion
to
11
require
the
guardian
ad
litem
to
perform
any
additional
duties
12
which
the
court
deems
necessary
to
protect
the
best
interest
13
of
the
child.
14
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