The state of Rhode Island shall protect and hold harmless any attorney, director, investigator, social worker, or other person employed by the office of the child advocate and/or any volunteer appointed by the child advocate, from financial loss and expense, including legal fees and costs, if any, arising out of any claim, demand, or suit for damages resulting from acts or omissions committed in the discharge of his or her duties with the program within the scope of his or her employment or appointment which may constitute negligence but which acts are not wanton, malicious, or grossly negligent as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.