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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to guardians ad litem; amending s. 61.402,

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F.S.; authorizing a citizen affiliated with a not-for-

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profit legal aid organization to serve as a guardian ad

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litem; requiring that such an individual undergo

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background screening; providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Section 61.402, Florida Statutes, is amended to

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read:

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     61.402  Qualifications of guardians ad litem.--A guardian ad

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litem must be either a citizen certified by the Guardian Ad Litem

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Program to act in family law cases, a citizen affiliated with a

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not-for-profit legal aid organization defined in s. 68.096, or an

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attorney who is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar.

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Prior to certifying a guardian ad litem to be appointed under

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this chapter, the Guardian Ad Litem Program must conduct a

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security background investigation as provided in s. 39.821. A

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citizen affiliated with a not-for-profit legal aid organization

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may serve as a guardian ad litem only after such organization has

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conducted a security background investigation that conforms to

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the requirements of s. 39.821.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.