A. 1. In every criminal case filed pursuant to the Oklahoma Child Abuse Reporting and Prevention Act, the judge of the district court may appoint an attorney-at-law to appear for and represent a child who is the alleged victim of child abuse or neglect.

2. The attorney may be allowed a reasonable fee for such services and shall meet with the child as soon as possible after receiving notification of the appointment.

3. Except for good cause shown to the court, the attorney shall meet with the child not less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to any hearing.

4. The attorney shall be given access to all reports relevant to the case and to any reports of examination of the child's parents, legal guardian, custodian or other person responsible for the child’s health or safety made pursuant to this section.

5. The attorney shall represent the child and any expressed interests of the child. To that end, the attorney shall make such further investigation as the attorney deems necessary to ascertain the facts, to interview witnesses, examine and cross-examine witnesses at the preliminary hearing and trial, make recommendations to the court, and participate further in the proceedings to the degree appropriate for adequately representing the child.

B. A court-appointed special advocate or guardian ad litem as defined by the Oklahoma Children's Code and the Oklahoma Juvenile Code may be appointed to represent the best interests of the child who is the alleged subject of child abuse or neglect. The court-appointed special advocate or guardian ad litem shall be given access to all reports relevant to the case and to reports of service providers and of examination of the child's parents, legal guardian, custodian or other person responsible for the child’s health or safety made pursuant to this section including but not limited to, information authorized by the Oklahoma Children’s Code and the Oklahoma Juvenile Code.

C. At such time as the information maintained by the statewide registry for child abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect is indexed by name of perpetrator and the necessary and appropriate due process procedures are established by the Department of Human Services, a court-appointed special advocate organization, in accordance with the policies and rules of the Department, may utilize the registry for the purpose of completing background screenings of volunteers with the organization.

Added by Laws 1995, c. 353, § 12, eff. Nov. 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 1996, c. 200, § 14, eff. Nov. 1, 1996; Laws 1999, c. 396, § 11, emerg. eff. June 10, 1999. Renumbered from § 7112 of Title 10 by Laws 2009, c. 233, § 205, emerg. eff. May 21, 2009.