HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 629

    Amendment No. 3 (for drafter's use only)

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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  5                                           ORIGINAL STAMP BELOW

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11  The Committee on Child & Family Security offered the

12  following:

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14         Amendment to Amendment (860251) (with title amendment) 

15         On page 4, line 23

16   insert:

17         Section 1.  Section 61.406, Florida Statutes, is

18  created to read:

19         61.406  Guardian ad litem; award of reasonable fees and

20  costs authorized.--In any action for dissolution of marriage,

21  paternity, modification, parental responsibility, custody, or

22  visitation, if the court appoints a guardian ad litem, it may,

23  from time to time, after considering the financial resources

24  of the parties, award to the guardian ad litem and apportion

25  between the parties a reasonable fee for his or her services

26  and reimbursement for the reasonable costs expended in

27  connection with his or her services as a guardian ad litem.

28  The guardian ad litem may apply to the court for an award of

29  reasonable fees and costs without the necessity of being

30  represented by an attorney. An application for fees or costs

31  by a guardian ad litem shall not require corroborating expert

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    File original & 9 copies    02/12/02
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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                                   Bill No. HB 629

    Amendment No. 3 (for drafter's use only)





  1  testimony to support an award of fees or costs to the guardian

  2  ad litem. In all cases, the court may order that the amount be

  3  paid directly to the guardian ad litem, who may enforce the

  4  order in that guardian ad litem's name.

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  7  ================ T I T L E   A M E N D M E N T ===============

  8  And the title is amended as follows:

  9         On page 5, line 7 of the amendment

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11  after the semicolon insert:

12         creating s. 61.406, F.S.; providing for

13         reasonable fees to the guardian ad litem in

14         certain situations;

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    File original & 9 copies    02/12/02
    hcf0003                     02:18 pm         00629-cfs -980209