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Montana committee hears debate over bill to expand who can serve as court-appointed special advocates
Summary
Lawmakers heard hours of testimony on Senate Bill 464, which would broaden who may serve as a court-appointed special advocate and clarify the role separate from attorney guardians ad litem; proponents said it expands coverage, while attorneys and county officials warned volunteers cannot replace paid GALs, especially in rural counties.
Senators and witnesses spent more than an hour Thursday debating Senate Bill 464, a proposal to modify Montana's statutes that govern court-appointed special advocates (CASA) and to clarify the definition and duties of "special advocates." Sponsor remarks framed the bill as an effort to "strengthen CASA" and to "expand and clarify" who may serve as a court-appointed special advocate.
Proponents, including April Barnings of the Montana CASA GAL Association and Kyla Hailstone of the Montana Family Court Awareness Project, said the bill codifies standards already required by National CASA and would expand the pool of qualified volunteer advocates in…
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