2A:4A-92 "Court Appointed Special Advocate" (CASA) program.

1. a. As provided in P.L.2009, c.217, a "Court Appointed Special Advocate" (CASA) shall mean a community volunteer who has been recruited, screened, trained, and supervised by a CASA program affiliated with Court Appointed Special Advocates of New Jersey or a similar organization as determined by the Administrative Office of the Courts. An affiliate CASA program shall meet all State Court Appointed Special Advocate and National Court Appointed Special Advocate standards, and shall be affiliated with Court Appointed Special Advocates of New Jersey and the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association.

b. There shall be established in the State of New Jersey a Court Appointed Special Advocate program which shall serve as a resource to the courts in determining the best interests of any child less than 18 years of age who has been removed from his home due to abuse or neglect. A Court Appointed Special Advocate may continue to undertake activities in furtherance of the child's best interests, in appropriate cases, until the child who is the subject of the court appointment reaches 21 years of age.

c. Pursuant to the Rules of Court, the court may appoint a special advocate from the CASA program to act on behalf of the court. The special advocate shall undertake certain activities in furtherance of the child's interests, but shall not supplant or interfere with the role of counsel or guardian ad litem for that child. Any such special advocate shall be a volunteer associated with a court-authorized CASA program. The duties and activities of a CASA program and all of its volunteers shall be subject to guidelines and standards established by the Administrative Director of the Courts.

d. A person seeking to volunteer as a Court Appointed Special Advocate shall be subject to the following:

(1) a criminal history record background check submitted by the Administrative Office of the Courts or its designee to the appropriate authorities. A copy of the results shall be provided to the affiliate CASA program. A person shall not be approved as a Court Appointed Special Advocate if criminal history record information exists on file with the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Division of State Police which would disqualify that person from serving in that capacity, as determined by the affiliate CASA program; and

(2) a child abuse record information check conducted by the Department of Children and Families to determine if an incident of child abuse or neglect has been substantiated, pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1971, c.437 (C.9:6-8.11), against the prospective CASA volunteer. The department shall cooperate by conducting the child abuse record information check and providing the results to the affiliate CASA program.

If a prospective volunteer refuses to consent to, or cooperate in, the securing of a criminal history record background check or a child abuse record information check, the person shall not be appointed as a Court Appointed Special Advocate.

e. Upon presentation of an order of appointment, the special advocate shall be provided access to all information and records relevant to the child, including but not limited to: school records, child care records, medical records, mental health records, family court and juvenile court records, and records of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency in the Department of Children and Families.

f. Any special advocate or affiliate CASA program staff member acting in good faith within the scope of his appointment or employment shall have immunity from any civil or criminal liability that otherwise might result by reason of his actions or failure to act, except in cases of willful or wanton misconduct.

L.2009, c.217, s.1; amended 2012, c.16, s.3.