(a) With respect to a petition filed in Superior Court pursuant to section 46b-150, the Superior Court may, if it deems it appropriate, (1) require a probation officer, the Commissioner of Children and Families or any other person to investigate the allegations in the petition and file a report of that investigation with the court, (2) appoint counsel for the minor who may serve as guardian ad litem for the minor, (3) appoint counsel for the minor's parents or guardian, or (4) make any other orders regarding the matter which the court deems appropriate.

(b) With respect to a petition filed in Probate Court pursuant to section 46b-150, the Probate Court shall request an investigation by the Commissioner of Children and Families, unless this requirement is waived by the court for cause shown. The court shall appoint counsel to represent the minor. The costs of such counsel shall be paid by the minor, except that if such minor is unable to pay for such counsel and files an affidavit with the court demonstrating inability of the minor to pay, the reasonable compensation shall be established by, and paid from funds appropriated to, the Judicial Department. If funds have not been included in the budget of the Judicial Department for such purposes, such compensation shall be established by the Probate Court Administrator and paid from the Probate Court Administration Fund.

(c) Upon finding at the hearing or any time during the pendency of the proceeding in the Probate Court, that reasonable cause exists to warrant an examination, the court on its own motion or on motion of any party, may order the minor to be examined at a suitable place by a physician, psychiatrist or licensed psychologist appointed by the court. The court may also order examination of a parent whose competency or ability to care for a minor before the court is at issue. The expenses of any examination if ordered by the court on its own motion shall be paid for by the petitioner or if ordered on motion by a party, shall be paid for by the party moving for such an examination, unless such party or petitioner is unable to pay such expenses in which case they shall be paid for by funds appropriated to the Judicial Department. However, in the case of a probate matter, if funds have not been included in the budget of the Judicial Department for such purposes, such expenses shall be established by the Probate Court Administrator and paid from the Probate Court Administration Fund. The court may consider the results of the examinations in ruling on the merits of the petition.

(P.A. 79-397, S. 2; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 98-219, S. 9; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 108; P.A. 00-75, S. 10.)

History: P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 98-219 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), adding language re petition filed in Superior Court, and added new Subsec. (b) re Probate Court request of investigation by Commissioner of Children and Families, appointment of counsel for minor and payment for counsel if minor is unable to pay; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made a technical change in Subsec. (a); P.A. 00-75 added Subsec. (c) providing that Probate Court during the pendency of an emancipation proceeding, on its own motion or on motion of any party, may order examination of minor and parent, with costs of examination paid by petitioner or party moving for examination, or if unable to pay, from funds appropriated to the Judicial Department, and, if a probate matter, if funds not appropriated to the Judicial Department, such expenses to be established by the Probate Court Administrator and paid from the Probate Court Administration Fund, and provided further that the court may consider the results of the examinations in ruling on the merits of the petition.

Cited. 38 CS 503; 39 CS 35; 40 CS 349; 44 CS 437.