Establishing pilot program for Public Guardian Ad Litem Services

HB 4358 establishes a three-year pilot program to provide legal representation for children in juvenile abuse and neglect cases through "Public Guardian ad Litem Services" in up to three West Virginia court circuits. The bill creates nonprofit corporations (not government agencies) to employ full-time staff attorneys who represent eligible minors - children unable to afford legal counsel in cases under §49-4-101 of the West Virginia Code. Key mechanisms include requiring these corporations to use Public Defender Service attorneys when conflicts arise, mandating oversight by a Guardian ad Litem Commission, and setting strict rules for funding, recordkeeping, and annual audits. The pilot aims to test an alternative model for delivering legal services to vulnerable children in specific court systems, with no expansion beyond the three designated circuits.