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Guardian ad Litem board seeks pay increases to reduce unassigned cases, board requests funding
Summary
The state Guardian ad Litem program told the Judiciary Committee it needs increased compensation, operating funds and volunteer support to eliminate a backlog of unassigned cases; the committee laid the budget request over for omnibus consideration.
Tammy Baker Olsen, state program administrator for the Minnesota Guardian ad Litem program, told the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 28 that guardians are paid low wages and staffing shortages have left children without court-appointed advocates.
Baker Olsen said the program advocated for roughly 12,000 children in 6,700 court cases last year and participated in more than 30,000 proceedings. She said the starting pay is $23.12 an hour and that staffing challenges have led to 137 unassigned cases and 237 children without a guardian-costly gaps in statutorily required advocacy.
The Guardian ad Litem Board requested $16.365 million for increased employee compensation plus funds for rising health insurance premiums, an additional $1 million in operating funds and $476,000 to expand volunteer recruitment and training in specified districts.
Committee action: The Judiciary Committee laid Senate File 2857 over for possible inclusion in the omnibus budget; members said they would consider appropriation levels as part of the larger budget process.
Why it matters: Guardians ad Litem are court-appointed child advocates in juvenile and family court; unfilled appointments can delay court decisions and reduce independent advocacy for children in abuse and neglect cases.
Next steps: The appropriations request will be evaluated in omnibus negotiations; committee staff will reconcile budget figures and consider distribution mechanisms.
