(a)
(1) It shall be the duty of the prosecuting attorney's office in the county where the petition is filed to represent the petitioner, regardless of the petitioner's financial status, at all hearings held in the circuit court pursuant to this subchapter except those hearings held before the circuit judge at the Arkansas State Hospital in Pulaski County, Arkansas.
(2) The Prosecutor Coordinator shall appear for and on behalf of the petitioner and the State of Arkansas before the circuit judge at the Arkansas State Hospital. The prosecuting attorneys of applicable counties may contract with other attorneys to provide these services.
(b) Such representation shall be a part of the official duties of the prosecuting attorney or of the Prosecutor Coordinator, and the prosecuting attorney and the Prosecutor Coordinator shall be immune from civil liability in the performance of this official duty.
(c) Nothing in this section shall prevent the petitioner from retaining his or her own counsel in these proceedings, in which case the prosecuting attorney or the Prosecutor Coordinator shall be relieved of the duty to represent the petitioner.