Title
Title
Rules and Forms | Juvenile Law: Counsel Collections Program Guidelines (Action Required)
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Summary
Summary
The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee recommends amending Guidelines for the Juvenile Dependency Counsel Collections Program (Guidelines), Appendix F of the California Rules of Court, which addresses reimbursement to the court for the cost of appointed counsel in dependency matters, including setting an income level below which responsible persons are presumed unable to pay for this cost. The income level is based on the statute that addresses eligibility for a fee waiver, which was recently amended to increase the threshold income for a fee waiver from 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines to 200 percent. Amending the Guidelines would maintain consistency with this statute.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
The Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee recommends that the Judicial Council, effective April 1, 2024, amend Appendix F to the California Rules of Court, item 6(d)(1), to incorporate by reference the fee waiver eligibility income limits in Government Code section 68632(b)(1) to establish the presumptive inability to pay for dependency counsel.
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