Art. 575. Duties of the program; qualifications of counsel

            A. The program shall provide qualified legal counsel, which shall include curator ad hoc appointments, to indigent or absent parents in child abuse and neglect cases in accordance with the provisions of Articles 608 and 1016 and R.S. 15:141 through 183 and 185.1 through 185.9.

            B. Legal representation, which shall include curator ad hoc appointments, of indigent or absent parents in child abuse and neglect cases shall comply with standards promulgated by the Louisiana Public Defender Board, or any successor to that board in accordance with R.S. 15:141 through 183 and 185.1 through 185.9 to ensure competent and fair representation.

            C. The Indigent Parents' Representation Program, through its governing authority, may adopt policies to provide representation to indigent parents prior to the commencement of court proceedings.

            Acts 2007, No. 95, §1; Acts 2014, No. 354, §1; Acts 2016, No. 407, §1, eff. June 5, 2016; Acts 2022, No. 272, §1.