(a) (1) A support person selected by the minor witness shall be appointed for the minor witness at the onset of the hearing, unless that person does not have the education, experience, and familiarity with the minor witness to protect the minor’s mental health, welfare, and well-being. A parent or guardian of the minor witness shall be presumed to be qualified to serve as the support person for the minor.

(2) If the minor witness does not make a selection, or does not select a person who is able, because of education, experience, or familiarity with the minor, to ensure that the minor’s mental health, welfare, and well-being are protected, or the judge determines that the minor’s parent or guardian is not qualified to serve as the support person for the minor witness, the judge shall select and appoint a support person for the minor. The support person shall be present during all stages of the hearing to provide support to the minor.

(b) If the respondent wants to contact the minor witness, the respondent shall contact the support person to coordinate any legal contact, including, but not necessarily limited to, an interview, deposition, or other hearing preparation task.

(c) The respondent may not use a private investigator or similar professional to make contact with the minor.

(d) The judge, at his or her discretion, may allow the support person to remain in close physical proximity to or in contact with the minor while the minor testifies. A support person shall not provide the minor with an answer to any question directed to the minor during the course of the minor’s testimony or otherwise prompt the minor.

(e) A support person appointed by the judge shall assist the minor to express the minor’s views concerning the personal consequences of the minor’s victimization, at a level and in a form of communication commensurate with the minor’s age, maturity, and cognitive ability.

(f) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a support person may, but need not, be assigned to a minor witness if that minor witness was not a direct victim of the alleged egregious misconduct.

(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 996, Sec. 1. (AB 2234) Effective January 1, 2019.)