MO HB1233

Mandates court appointment of a guardian ad litem for children 12 years old or younger in abuse, neglect, custody, and related proceedings, and for parents who are minors or mentally incompetent in such proceedings.

Allows courts to appoint a guardian ad litem for children 13 years or older only if the court makes specific findings on the record regarding the necessity for such representation.

Requires courts to make specific findings on the record before designating volunteer advocates to assist with guardian ad litem duties, and prohibits compensation of volunteer advocates from public funds.

Establishes a rebuttable presumption that care, custody, and control of a child should be awarded to parents or through kinship care in that order of preference, with courts required to make specific findings on the record if denying such placement.

Requires all persons performing guardian ad litem duties to complete training in permanency planning and advocate for timely court hearings to achieve permanency for children as expeditiously as possible.