SB3374 Summary

• Changes court appointment of special advocates from discretionary ("may") to mandatory ("shall") in juvenile court cases when special advocates are available.

• Defines "court appointed special advocate" as a trained community volunteer who must be of legal age, screened and trained on child abuse/neglect and juvenile proceedings per National CASA Association standards, actively supervised, and sworn in by a circuit court judge.

• Establishes eight specific duties for special advocates including conducting independent case assessments, maintaining regular contact with the minor, submitting written reports to court, attending hearings, monitoring case plan compliance, and reviewing court documents.

• Grants special advocates access to all records and information relevant to a minor's case upon presentation of an order of appointment, with all acquired information deemed confidential and protected from disclosure except by court order.

• Prohibits individuals convicted of specified criminal offenses or identified as perpetrators of child abuse/neglect in the Department of Children and Family Services registry from serving as special advocates.