Amends TCA Title 36 and Title 37.

This bill requires the department of children's services to employ a guardian ad litem within each region of the state. The bill requires the following of such a guardian ad litem:<br /> <br /> (1) That the guardian ad litem must be qualified under Supreme Court Rule 40, which provides guidelines for guardians ad litem for children in juvenile court neglect, abuse, and dependency proceedings;<br /> <br /> (2) That the guardian ad litem must have experience in termination of parental rights cases and be trained by the department in such terminations;<br /> <br /> (3) That the guardian ad litem must advocate for each child who is in the department's custody due to allegations of dependency and neglect and located within the region that the guardian ad litem serves;<br /> <br /> (4) That, when a child has been in the department's custody due to allegations of dependency and neglect for at least six months, the guardian ad litem for the region in which the child is located must review the child's case to determine whether to file a petition to terminate the parental rights of the child's parent or guardian; and<br /> <br /> (5) That, if the guardian ad litem determines under (4) that termination is appropriate, the guardian ad litem must file a petition within 30 days to terminate the parental rights of the child's parent or guardian.<br />