HB 1128

Abstract

Children's advocacy centers; definitions; investigations by local departments of social services. Replaces the term "child advocacy center" with "children's advocacy center" and defines such term. The bill provides that if it is determined during a human trafficking assessment that a forensic interview of the child is needed, such interview may be conducted by a children's advocacy center within the jurisdiction; however, if the interview cannot be completed within 14 days, the forensic interview may be conducted by a children's advocacy center located in another jurisdiction. This bill is identical to SB 12.

Children's advocacy centers; definitions; investigationsby local departments of social services. Replaces the term "childadvocacy center" with "children's advocacy center" and defines suchterm. The bill provides that if during the course of an investigationof child abuse by a local department of social services a local multidisciplinaryteam determines that an interview of the child by a children's advocacycenter is needed and such interview cannot be completed within thejurisdiction within 14 days, the local department of social services may facilitate the interview with another trained child forensicinterviewer. The bill also provides that if it is determined duringa human trafficking assessment that a forensic interview of the childis needed, such interview may be conducted by a children's advocacycenter within the jurisdiction; however, if the interview cannotbe completed within 14 days, the forensic interview may be conductedby a children's advocacy center located in another jurisdiction or another trained child forensic interviewer.