Bill Summary: This proposal adds guardians ad litem to the list of services that are given priority when determining how to spend moneys in the county family services and justice fund when families receive dispute resolution services from the family court.

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUND
FUND AFFECTED	FY 2009	FY 2010	FY 2011


Total Estimated Net Effect on General Revenue Fund	$0	$0	$0

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON OTHER STATE FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 2009	FY 2010	FY 2011


Total Estimated Net Effect on Other State Funds	$0	$0	$0

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 2009	FY 2010	FY 2011


Total Estimated Net Effect on All Federal Funds	$0	$0	$0

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FULL TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE)
FUND AFFECTED	FY 2009	FY 2010	FY 2011


Total Estimated Net Effect on FTE	0	0	0

☐ Estimated Total Net Effect on All funds expected to exceed $100,000 savings or (cost).

☐ Estimated Net Effect on General Revenue Fund expected to exceed $100,000 (cost).

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDS
FUND AFFECTED	FY 2009	FY 2010	FY 2011
Local Government	$0	$0	$0 or (Unknown)

Officials from the Office of State Courts Administrator assume the proposed legislation would require the circuit court to develop and implement a plan to provide guardians ad litem in accordance to standards established in 1996. The legislation would require the court to implement this plan by July 1, 2011.

Depending on how the legislation is implemented, there may be a cost to the CTS, but there is no way to quantify the cost at this time.

Oversight assumes, based on information provided by the Office of State Courts Administrator, the September 17, 1996, Missouri supreme court standards act as guidelines or best practices for the circuit courts. The legislation would make these standards mandatory. Some circuits may currently be following the standards, so there would be no cost. Some circuits may not be following the standards, which could result in increased state and local costs. The state would incur the cost of any additional FTE. The counties would incur the cost of any equipment and expense. Oversight assumes, with the implementation date of July 1, 2011 (FY 2012), any state cost for FTE would be incurred beginning FY 2012, which is beyond the scope of the fiscal note. Oversight assumes the counties would incur the cost of devising a plan, and for fiscal note purposes, Oversight assumes this cost would be incurred in FY 2011. Oversight also assumes the counties would incur the cost of equipment and expense for any additional FTE beginning FY 2012. Oversight has reflected the local cost as $0 or (Unknown) in FY 2011.

No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.

The proposed legislation would require the circuit court to develop and implement a plan to provide guardians ad litem in accordance to standards established in 1996. The legislation would require the court to implement this plan by July 1, 2011.

This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space.

FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government	FY 2009 (10 Mo.)	FY 2010	FY 2011
LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Costs – Counties
Plan development	$0	$0	$0 or (Unknown)

ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT	$0	$0	$0 or (Unknown)