Appointment of CASA volunteer by the court; memorandum of understanding.

(1) A court may appoint a CASA volunteer in a proceeding brought under section 2 or 19b of chapter XIIA of the probate code of 1939, 1939 PA 288, MCL 712A.2 and 712A.19b, when, in the court's opinion, a child who may be affected by the proceeding requires services that a CASA volunteer can provide and the court finds that appointing a CASA volunteer is in the best interests of the child. (2) A CASA volunteer must be appointed according to a court order. The court order must specify the CASA volunteer as a friend of the court acting on the court's authority. The CASA volunteer acting as a friend of the court shall offer as evidence a written report with recommendations consistent with the best interests of the child, subject to all pertinent objections. (3) A memorandum of understanding between a court and a CASA program is required in a county in which a CASA program is established. The memorandum of understanding must set forth the roles and responsibilities of the CASA volunteer. (4) The CASA volunteer's appointment ends when 1 of the following occurs: (a) When the court's jurisdiction over the CASA child ends. (b) Upon discharge by the court on its own or another party's motion. (c) With the approval of the court, at the request of the program director.