FL H7161

Liens against parents for court-appointed counsel costs in dependency cases remain enforceable after the child reaches majority or becomes emancipated, rather than expiring when the child ages out of the system.

Clarifies that parents in chapter 39 proceedings (dependency and termination of parental rights) qualify for court-appointed counsel at various stages including shelter hearings, adjudicatory and judicial review processes, appeals, and reopened proceedings.

Parents found indigent who receive court-appointed counsel must pay a $50 application fee within 7 days; failure to pay triggers a court order and collection proceedings, and indigent parents unable to pay are enrolled in a payment plan.

Parents whose children are found dependent or whose parental rights are terminated become liable for the application fee plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs as determined by the court, which may be incorporated into a case plan or secured by a lien.

Requires clerks of court to provide financial affidavits, indigency applications, and related documents to private collection attorneys or agents pursuing unpaid court debts, notwithstanding confidentiality restrictions on the court file.