(a) Unless requested by a parent/guardian/caretaker and consented to or requested by the child concerning whom the petition has been filed, the public shall not be admitted to an emergency custody hearing. The judge may nevertheless admit such persons as he/she deems to have a direct and legitimate interest in the particular case or the work of the court.

(b) A report prepared by YSS, and hearsay evidence contained in it, where the hearsay declarant is a peace officer, a health practitioner, a social worker, or a teacher, is admissible and constitutes competent evidence upon which a finding of jurisdiction [a finding that a child is, or is likely to be, a CINA] may be based.

(c) The preparer of the report shall be made available for cross-examination upon a timely request by any party. The court may deem the preparer available for cross-examination if it determines that the preparer is on telephone standby and can be present in court within a reasonable time of the request or available by telephone.

(d) A CASA shall be appointed to any unrepresented child in all Court proceedings pursuant to YTC 12.45.070. The CASA volunteer shall be presented all relevant documents in that child’s cases including, but not limited to, social services reports, Court findings and orders, discovery materials and all petitions filed. [Ord. 46A § 1701(f), adopted, 3/24/2016.]