Rereferred to Finance
Referred to Committee on Rules
Reduces from two to one the number of senators appointed to the Committee on District Courts (the Committee) and provides for the Speaker of the House of Delegates to appoint the two delegates on the Committee and for the Senate Committee on Rules to appoint the sole senator on the Committee. Currently, the Chairman of the House Committee for Courts of Justice and the Chairman of the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice appoint two delegates and two senators, respectively, to the Committee.
Requires guardians ad litem appointed to represent a child in a matter to conduct an investigation in compliance with certain standards. The bill further requires the guardian ad litem to file a copy of any written report directed by the court with the clerk of court. The bill requires the guardian ad litem to furnish a copy of such report to the attorneys representing parties and parties proceeding pro se in the matter prior to any trial or other proceeding or hearing on the matter. The bill provides that, where a written report is not directed, the guardian ad litem shall inform all attorneys representing parties and parties proceeding pro se of any recommendations intended to be made to the court prior to any trial or other proceeding or hearing on the matter. The bill specifies that a guardian ad litem's report shall not be admitted into evidence unless the contents are otherwise established at the trial or other proceeding or hearing on the matter. The bill requires the guardian ad litem to file with the court, with a copy to attorneys representing parties and parties proceeding pro se, a certification form of such guardian's compliance with certain standards, along with a summary of the investigation conducted by such guardian. The bill provides that the court shall grant a continuance as justice requires should such guardian ad litem fail to meet any specified requirements contained in the bill.
Allows a parent or legal custodian of a minor to delegate to another person by a properly executed power of attorney any powers regarding care, custody, or property of the minor for a period not exceeding one year. The bill provides that a parent or legal custodian who is a service member, as defined in the bill, may delegate such powers for a period of longer than a year while on active duty service, but specifies that such a period is not to exceed such active duty service plus 30 days. The bill also exempts from the requirement to obtain a license as a child-placing agency a private, nonprofit organization that assists parents with the process of delegating parental or legal custodial powers of their children, including assistance with identifying appropriate placements for their children, or that provides services and resources to support parents and legal guardians to whom custody has been transferred pursuant to a temporary delegation of parental or legal custodial powers. However, such private, nonprofit organizations will be subject to background checks and must develop and implement written policies for certain services and provide staff and provider training.
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Allows a magistrate or a general district court to issue an order requiring a person to provide a blood specimen for testing for human immunodeficiency virus or the hepatitis B or C virus when exposure to bodily fluids occurs between a person and any health care provider, person employed by or under the direction and control of a health care provider, law-enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical services personnel, person employed by a public safety agency, or school board employee and the person whose blood specimen is sought refuses to consent to providing such specimen. Currently, only the general district court may issue such order. The bill allows a testing order to be issued based on a finding that there is probable cause to believe that exposure has occurred. Currently, there must be a finding by a preponderance of the evidence that exposure has occurred.
Reduces the penalty for adultery from a Class 4 misdemeanor to a civil penalty of not more than $250.
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Requires guardians ad litem appointed to represent a child in a matter to conduct an investigation in compliance with certain standards. The bill further requires the guardian ad litem to file a copy of any written report directed by the court with the clerk of court. The bill requires the guardian ad litem to furnish a copy of such report to the attorneys representing parties and parties proceeding pro se in the matter prior to any trial or other proceeding or hearing on the matter. The bill provides that, where a written report is not directed, the guardian ad litem shall inform all attorneys representing parties and parties proceeding pro se of any recommendations intended to be made to the court prior to any trial or other proceeding or hearing on the matter. The bill specifies that a guardian ad litem's report shall not be admitted into evidence unless the contents are otherwise established at the trial or other proceeding or hearing on the matter. The bill requires the guardian ad litem to file with the court, with a copy to attorneys representing parties and parties proceeding pro se, a certification form of such guardian's compliance with certain standards, along with a summary of the investigation conducted by such guardian. The bill provides that the court shall grant a continuance as justice requires should such guardian ad litem fail to meet any specified requirements contained in the bill.
Allows a parent or legal custodian of a minor to delegate to another person by a properly executed power of attorney any powers regarding care, custody, or property of the minor for a period not exceeding one year. The bill provides that a parent or legal custodian who is a service member, as defined in the bill, may delegate such powers for a period of longer than a year while on active duty service, but specifies that such a period is not to exceed such active duty service plus 30 days. The bill also exempts from the requirement to obtain a license as a child-placing agency a private, nonprofit organization that assists parents with the process of delegating parental or legal custodial powers of their children, including assistance with identifying appropriate placements for their children, or that provides services and resources to support parents and legal guardians to whom custody has been transferred pursuant to a temporary delegation of parental or legal custodial powers. However, such private, nonprofit organizations will be subject to background checks and must develop and implement written policies for certain services and provide staff and provider training.
