1. A. The presiding or associate district judge or other judge with juvenile or deprived docket responsibilities may, with the approval of the county commissioners, appoint a court appointed special advocate (CASA) as juvenile officer .

   1. 1. In counties having a population in excess of twenty-four thousand (24,000), one juvenile officer may be employed in the respective county to handle juvenile deprived cases and other related matters;
   2. 2. In counties having a population in excess of forty thousand (40,000), a juvenile officer and assistant juvenile officer may be employed in the respective county to handle juvenile deprived cases and other related matters.

2. B.

   1. 1.

      1. a. A CASA program, as defined in paragraph 11 of subsection A of Section 7001-1.3 of this title, may employ and manage the juvenile officer and/or the assistant juvenile officer. A court-appointed special advocate may serve as the juvenile officer and a volunteer coordinator employed by a CASA program may be named the assistant juvenile officer.
      2. b. When a CASA program, as defined in paragraph 11 of subsection A of Section 7001-1.3 of this title, is appointed by a court as the juvenile officer, the CASA program shall maintain an independent board of directors and shall function pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Children’s Code or the Oklahoma Juvenile Code.
   2. 2. The county commissioners may approve county funding to a CASA program as salaries of the juvenile officer and/or assistant juvenile officer.

   3. 3. The salary of the juvenile officer shall be not less than sixty percent (60%) nor more than ninety percent (90%) of Class A officers of the county. The salary of the assistant juvenile officer shall be not less than sixty percent (60%) nor more than eighty percent (80%) of Class A officers of the county . Such salaries shall be paid from county funds.

      Except as provided in paragraph 5 of this subsection, the juvenile officer and assistant juvenile officer shall be entitled to reimbursement for all traveling expenses incurred in the performance of official duties. Such expenses shall be paid upon sworn itemized claims. When transportation involves the use of the private automobile of the juvenile officer or assistant juvenile officer, such officer shall be entitled to claim reimbursement for use thereof at the rate provided for state employees under the State Travel Reimbursement Act. Such reimbursement shall be from county funds.

   4. 4. The county may allow the CASA to participate in all county employee benefit programs including, but not limited to, health care plans. The CASA program shall, upon the county’s request, reimburse the county for the cost of the CASA’s participation in such programs.
   5. 5. The county may provide adequate office space for the CASA program. All other expenses of the CASA including, but not limited to, travel reimbursement shall be the responsibility of the CASA program.
   6. 6. The court appointed special advocate shall serve at the pleasure of the court.
3. C. The provisions of this act shall apply to juvenile officers employed subsequent to the effective date of this act.
4. D. The provisions of this act shall not be applicable in counties which maintain a Juvenile Bureau under the provisions of Sections 1201 through 1210 of this title.

Added by Laws 1969, SB 94, c. 108, § 1, emerg. eff. April 1, 1969; Amended by Laws 1981, SB 88 c. 98, § 1, emerg. eff. April 22, 1981; Amended by Laws 1981, SB 112, c. 238, § 7, eff. October 1, 1981; Amended by Laws 2003, SB 742, c. 105, § 1, eff. November 1, 2003 (superseded document available).