MN SF3218

Courts must appoint a guardian ad litem in child custody and marriage dissolution proceedings when domestic child abuse or neglect is alleged, or when a parent alleges the other parent committed sexual abuse with no physical evidence.

Guardian ad litem must conduct initial family screening covering the child's behavior and emotional adjustment, the alleged abuser's risk factors, and the alleging parent's background, then recommend whether family therapeutic management is appropriate.

Court may order family therapeutic management process with appointed coordinator to oversee comprehensive evaluation and develop intervention and reunification plan when guardian ad litem recommends it.

Local welfare agency may conduct family assessment instead of investigation for reports not involving substantial child endangerment, but must immediately investigate reports alleging neglect, physical abuse, or sexual abuse by a parent or family member.

State court administrator must appoint work group by June 1, 2010 to develop separate questionnaires for screening alleged victims, accused parents, and alleging parents in sexual abuse cases, with results quantifying consistency with empirically validated indicators.