Compendium of Budget Information for the 2011 General Session

Executive Offices & Criminal Justice
Appropriations Subcommittee

Function

The Office of Guardian ad Litem (GAL) and Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a separate line item within the court's budget. The program provides state-funded attorneys to represent the best interests of minors in Juvenile Court when there is an allegation of abuse, neglect, or dependency. A GAL may also be appointed in juvenile court for child protective order, emancipation, or delinquency cases. A GAL may also be court-appointed to represent minors when allegations of abuse or neglect arise in the District Court during divorce or custody proceedings or in a criminal case when the victim is a child. The Office also administers the private GAL program which provides trained private attorneys to serve as GAL for children in custody disputes which do not involve allegations of abuse and/or neglect. There are Guardian ad Litem offices in all eight judicial districts. The GAL office includes a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) system that uses trained volunteers to assist attorneys in representing the best interests of children in the juvenile courts.

Statutory Authority

Several sections of Utah Code guide the operations of the Guardian ad Litem.

UCA Sections 78A-6-901 and 902 establish the office, provide an organizational framework, and assigns duties.
UCA 78A-2-227 outlines the requirements for Guardian ad Litem involvement in District Court.
UCA 78A-2-228 sets conditions for private attorney use as a Guardian ad Litem in District Court.
The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, 42 USC 5106a(b)(A)(ix) also guides this program.

Intent Language

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided for Guardian ad Litem in Item 23 of Chapter 396 Laws of Utah 2009 not lapse at the close of fiscal year 2010.

Special Funds

Inn addition to General Funds, two General Fund restricted accounts exist that fund the Guardian ad Litem. The Children's Legal Defense Account is shared with the District Court.

Funding Detail

As in most of the judicial budgets, funding is mostly General Fund - over 80 percent of the budget is General Fund.

Sources of Finance	2007 Actual	2008 Actual	2009 Actual	2010 Actual	2011 Approp
General Fund	$3,543,500	$4,563,700	$5,009,800	$5,011,100	$5,033,100
General Fund, One-time	($12,700)	$75,100	($86,800)	($156,100)	$0
Dedicated Credits Revenue	$17,700	$47,400	$99,800	$98,600	$20,000
GFR - Children's Legal Defense	$424,000	$437,700	$449,200	$449,300	$451,300
GFR - Guardian Ad Litem Services	$348,700	$355,300	$360,900	$355,700	$365,300
Transfers	$0	$0	$0	$494,500	$0
Beginning Nonlapsing	$42,800	$0	$155,700	$248,000	$0
Closing Nonlapsing	$0	($155,800)	($248,000)	($462,800)	$0
Total	$4,364,000	$5,323,400	$5,740,600	$6,038,300	$5,869,700

Programs:	2007 Actual	2008 Actual	2009 Actual	2010 Actual	2011 Approp
Guardian ad Litem	$4,364,000	$5,323,400	$5,740,600	$6,038,300	$5,869,700
Total	$4,364,000	$5,323,400	$5,740,600	$6,038,300	$5,869,700

Categories of Expenditure	2007 Actual	2008 Actual	2009 Actual	2010 Actual	2011 Approp
Personnel Services	$3,943,400	$4,724,700	$5,083,500	$5,093,800	$5,347,200
In-state Travel	$47,200	$58,100	$51,900	$54,000	$66,100
Out-of-state Travel	$3,700	$6,100	$500	$13,000	$2,900
Current Expense	$356,800	$473,900	$547,000	$817,000	$453,500
DP Current Expense	$12,900	$54,500	$11,000	$47,000	$0
DP Capital Outlay	$0	$0	$0	$13,500	$0
Capital Outlay	$0	$6,100	$0	$0	$0
Transfers	$0	$0	$46,700	$0	$0
Total	$4,364,000	$5,323,400	$5,740,600	$6,038,300	$5,869,700

Other Indicators	2007 Actual	2008 Actual	2009 Actual	2010 Actual	2011 Approp
Budgeted FTE	54.0	55.0	67.0	69.2	67.8
Vehicles	5	5	7	7	7

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