HB 3304

Abstract

Amends the Children's Advocacy Center Act. Provides that schools in a county with an accredited Children's Advocacy Center shall not proceed with interviews of a student regarding an alleged incident of sexual abuse, regardless of whether the student is a victim, witness, or alleged perpetrator, until the school receives written approval from an appropriate law enforcement agency or the Department of Children and Family Services. Allows a law enforcement agency or the Department to object to an interview allowed by the other entity and no interview may be done until both approve. Allows an investigating body of a school to view a forensic interview under specified circumstances. Includes legislative findings and defines a term. Amends the School Code making conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2019. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 55 ILCS 80/4.5 new Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/22-84 new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Moves the provisions to the School Code. Changes references from "sexual abuse" to "child abuse or neglect". Defines "appropriate law enforcement agency" and "written approval". Provides that when a mandated reporter within a school has knowledge of an alleged incident of child abuse or neglect: the reporter shall call the Department of Children and Family Services hotline immediately after obtaining the minimal information necessary to make a report and no school personnel shall conduct an investigation until specified circumstances occur; and contact any Children's Advocacy Center in the county. Removes provisions relating to a Children's Advocacy Center allowing an investigating body to view digitally recorded forensic interviews. Provides that the State Board of Education shall develop and make available materials relating to notification and reporting under the provisions. Provides that the provisions apply to all schools (rather than public schools) operated under the School Code, including non-public schools. Makes conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2019.