A. The court shall appoint the program designated for the jurisdiction by the Louisiana Supreme Court to provide qualified, independent counsel for the child at the time the order setting the first court hearing is signed. Neither the child nor anyone purporting to act on his behalf may be permitted to waive this right.
B. The child shall be a party to the proceedings, and the attorney for the child shall have the authority to represent the child at all stages of the proceedings. The attorney for the child shall have the authority to take actions, including but not limited to the following:
(1) Accompany the child and be present for all court appearances, school hearings, and educational and other meetings related to the child.
(2) View and copy the child's medical, dental, psychological, psychiatric, educational, or counseling records.
C. If the court finds that the parents of the child are financially able, it may order the parents to pay some or all of the costs of the child's representation in accordance with Children's Code Articles 320 and 321.
D. In any dispositional or postdispositional hearing which may result in the mental health institutionalization of a child who is in the custody of the state, the child shall be entitled to representation by an attorney appointed by the Mental Health Advocacy Service, unless unavailable as determined by the director.
Acts 1991, No. 235, §6, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 705, §1, eff. July 6, 1992; Acts 2004, No. 301, §1, eff. June 18, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 321, §1; Acts 2006, No. 271, §1; Acts 2007, No. 307, §9; Acts 2014, No. 354, §1.