Court-appointed special advocate; immunity from liability; supreme court rules

(a) In addition to the attorney appointed pursuant to K.S.A. 38-2306, and amendments thereto, the court at any stage of a proceeding pursuant to this code may appoint a volunteer court-appointed special advocate for a juvenile who shall serve until discharged by the court and whose primary duties shall be to advocate the best interests of the juvenile and assist the juvenile in obtaining a permanent, safe and appropriate placement. The court-appointed special advocate shall have such qualifications and perform such specific duties and responsibilities as prescribed by rule of the supreme court. (b) Any person participating in a judicial proceeding as a court-appointed special advocate shall be presumed prima facie to be acting in good faith and in so doing shall be immune from any civil liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed. (c) The supreme court shall promulgate rules governing court-appointed special advocate programs related to proceedings in the district courts pursuant to this code.