Study court appointed special advocates

2025 Regular Session

LC 501 proposes an interim study of court-appointed special advocates (CASAs) to evaluate programs, training, funding, and outcomes for children.

(LC) Draft Died in Process

#interimstudyresolutions

Overview

LC 501 is a draft bill introduced on October 4, 2024, with the title “Study court appointed special advocates.” The bill falls under the subject of interim studies within the Legislature. Its primary aim appears to be to authorize or direct an interim study of court-appointed special advocates (CASAs). As of the latest actions, the bill did not advance and is listed as “Draft Died in Process.”

Purpose and intent

The bill’s title indicates an intent to examine CASA programs and related processes through an interim study.

Interim studies typically assess how CASA programs operate, their effectiveness, training and oversight, funding, coordination with courts and child welfare agencies, and outcomes for children in court proceedings.

The exact scope, objectives, and deliverables of the study would be defined in the bill text, which is not provided in the available information.

Key provisions (availability and limitations)

Specific statutory provisions are not provided in the available summary. As a study bill, anticipated provisions in similar measures often include:

Establishment of the scope and duration of the interim study.
Appointment or designation of a study body (e.g., interim committee or task force).
Duties to collect data, review CASA training, case outcomes, and funding models.
Requirements for periodic reporting to the Legislature with findings and recommendations.
Potential authorization of funding or resources to conduct the study.

Because the text is not provided, the above are typical elements of interim-study bills and may not reflect LC 501’s exact language.

Affected parties and potential impact

Potentially affected: CASA programs and volunteers, county and state child welfare agencies, juvenile and family courts, prosecutors, defenders, and the families and children served by CASA programs.

Potential impact if revived: Could inform policy decisions on CASA program funding, training standards, oversight mechanisms, and collaboration between courts, child welfare, and volunteers.

Procedural and timeline details

Introduced: October 4, 2024.

Status updates:

2024-10-04: Drafter Assigned.
2024-11-20: Draft On Hold.
2025-05-22: Draft Died in Process.

Current status: Died in Process (no further action expected for this session). This means the bill did not progress toward enactment in its current form.

Next steps: If lawmakers choose to address CASA oversight or study in the future, a new bill or a revised LC 501 could be reintroduced in a future session with clarified provisions.

Summary

LC 501 proposed an interim study of court-appointed special advocates. While the bill progressed only to draft stage and ultimately died in process, its existence signals legislative interest in evaluating CASA programs and their impact on the child welfare and court systems. Readers should monitor for any new or reintroduced measures that address CASA programs, training, funding, and oversight.

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