(705 ILCS 405/2-17.1)
Sec. 2-17.1. Court appointed special advocate.
(1) The court may appoint a special advocate upon the filing of a petition under this Article or at any time during the pendency of a proceeding under this Article. Except in counties with a population over 3,000,000, the court appointed special advocate may also serve as guardian ad litem by appointment of the court under Section 2-17 of this Act.
(2) The court appointed special advocate shall act as a monitor and shall be notified of all administrative case reviews pertaining to the minor and work with the parties' attorneys, the guardian ad litem, and others assigned to the minor's case to protect the minor's health, safety and best interests and insure the proper delivery of child welfare services. The court may consider, at its discretion, testimony of the court appointed special advocate pertaining to the well-being of the child.
(3) Court appointed special advocates shall serve as volunteers without compensation and shall receive training consistent with nationally developed standards.
(4) No person convicted of a criminal offense as specified in Section 4.2 of the Child Care Act of 1969 and no person identified as a perpetrator of an act of child abuse or neglect as reflected in the Department of Children and Family Services State Central Register shall serve as a court appointed special advocate.
(5) All costs associated with the appointment and duties of the court appointed special advocate shall be paid by the court appointed special advocate or an organization of court appointed special advocates. In no event shall the court appointed special advocate be liable for any costs of services provided to the child.
(6) The court may remove the court appointed special advocate or the guardian ad litem from a case upon finding that the court appointed special advocate or the guardian ad litem has acted in a manner contrary to the child's best interest or if the court otherwise deems continued service is unwanted or unnecessary.
(7) In any county in which a program of court appointed special advocates is in operation, the provisions of this Section shall apply unless the county board of that county, by resolution, determines that the county shall not be governed by this Section.
(8) Any court appointed special advocate acting in good faith within the scope of his or her appointment shall have immunity from any civil or criminal liability that otherwise might result by reason of his or her actions, except in cases of willful and wanton misconduct. For the purpose of any civil or criminal proceedings, the good faith of any court appointed special advocate shall be presumed.
(Source: P.A. 90-28, eff. 1-1-98; 90-608, eff. 6-30-98; 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)
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Last modified: February 18, 2015