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SB 2355

Courts, Juvenile - As introduced, requires the juvenile court clerk to include, in the clerk's regular monthly report to the administrative director of the courts and the comptroller of the treasury, the total amount of guardian ad litem administrative fees that were not waived but were not collected. - Amends TCA Title 16; Title 20; Title 33; Title 34; Title 36 and Title 37.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Becky Massey

SB 2355 requires guardian ad litem training for appointed GALs within three years (with a phased start) and mandates monthly reporting of uncollected GAL fees.

Transmitted to Governor for action.
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Bill Summary · SB 2355

Summary of SB 2355 (Session 114) – Tennessee

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill, as amended, focuses on two related areas in juvenile court proceedings: 1) Mandating guardian ad litem (GAL) training standards and a phased compliance timeline. 2) Requiring increased transparency in reporting guardian ad litem administrative fees that are not collected (i.e., fees that are assessed but not paid) by juvenile court clerks.

Key Provisions

1) Guardian ad Litem Training Requirements (Amendment to TCA § 36-4-132)

  • Section 1 creates a new subsection requiring GALs appointed by the court to complete training appropriate to the GAL role. The training should cover, at minimum, early childhood, child, and adolescent development, delivered by a qualified professional.

  • Section 1 also allows a court to appoint a GAL who has not yet completed the required training, provided that the GAL completes the training within three (3) years after their initial appointment.

  • Section 2 provides a transitional rule:

    • GALs appointed before July 1, 2026, may continue serving even if they have not yet met the training requirement, but they must complete the required training before July 1, 2029.

  • Section 3 states the act takes effect July 1, 2026.

Fiscal/Operational Implications:
- Training must be provided, but the fiscal note indicates the courts can comply within existing resources, with an estimated not-significant fiscal impact.

2) Reporting of Guardian Ad Litem Administrative Fees (From the Fiscal Notes)

  • The bill requires juvenile court clerks to include in their regular monthly reports to the Administrative Director of the Courts (AD) and the Comptroller of the Treasury (COT) the total amount of GAL administrative fees that were not waived but were not collected.

  • The reporting requirements build on existing duties for court clerks to report on:

    • The number of cases involving appointed counsel and GALs where fees were waived, collected, or not collected.
    • The total commissions retained by the clerk and fees forwarded to the State Treasurer.

Fiscal/Operational Implications:
- Expected to have a not-significant fiscal impact, given that clerks already file similar annual/periodic reports and the added data is within existing reporting frameworks.

Who/What Would Be Affected

  • Guardians ad Litem appointed in dissolution-of-marriage actions involving minor children (and potentially other actions under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-132).
  • Juvenile court clerks responsible for administrative fee collection and monthly reporting to the Administrative Director of the Courts and the Comptroller of the Treasury.
  • The Administrative Director of the Courts and the Comptroller of the Treasury, who receive the updated monthly reports.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Effective date: July 1, 2026.
  • Transitional provisions:
    • GALs appointed before July 1, 2026, may continue serving without having completed the new training, but must complete the training by July 1, 2029.
  • Practical implementation: COURTS are expected to absorb the training requirements within existing resources, with minimal added fiscal burden.

Bottom Line

SB 2355, as amended, strengthens GAL qualifications by mandating role-specific training while providing a reasonable multi-year transition. It also enhances financial transparency by requiring monthly reporting of uncollected GAL administrative fees. Overall, the measure is designed to standardize GAL preparation for sensitive family courts cases and improve accountability in fee collection reporting, with an estimated not-significant fiscal impact.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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