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S1242................................................by JUDICIARY AND RULES CHILD ABUSE - INVESTIGATIONS - Amends existing law to provide that each multidisciplinary team created pursuant to law shall classify, assess and review, at a minimum, a representative sample of cases referred to either the Department of Health and Welfare or law enforcement entities for investigation of child abuse or neglect. 03/01 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing 03/02 Rpt prt - to Health/Wel
S1242|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO |||| Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session - 1999IN THE SENATE SENATE BILL NO. 1242 BY JUDICIARY AND RULES COMMITTEE 1 AN ACT 2 RELATING TO CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION BY MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS; AMENDING 3 SECTION 16-1609A, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT EACH TEAM SHALL CLASSIFY, 4 ASSESS AND REVIEW AT A MINIMUM A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF CASES REFERRED 5 TO EITHER THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE OR LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES 6 FOR INVESTIGATION OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT. 7 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho: 8 SECTION 1. That Section 16-1609A, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby 9 amended to read as follows: 10 16-1609A. INVESTIGATION BY MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS. (1) By January 1, 11 1997, the prosecuting attorney in each county shall be responsible for the 12 development of an interagency multidisciplinary team or teams for investiga- 13 tion of child abuse and neglect referrals within each county. The teams shall 14 consist of, but not be limited to, law enforcement personnel, department of 15 health and welfare child protection risk assessment staff, a representative of 16 the prosecuting attorney's office, and any other person deemed to be necessary 17 due to their special training in child abuse investigation. Other persons may 18 participate in investigation of particular cases at the invitation of the team 19 and as determined necessary, such as medical personnel, school officials, men- 20 tal health workers, personnel from domestic violence programs or the guardian 21 ad litem program. 22 (2) The teams shall develop a written protocol for investigation of child 23 abuse cases and for interviewing alleged victims of such abuse or neglect. 24 Each team shall develop written agreements signed by member agencies, specify- 25 ing the role of each agency, procedures to be followed to assess risks to the 26 child and criteria and procedures to be followed to ensure the child victim's 27 safety including removal of the alleged offender. 28 (3) Each team member shall be trained in risk assessment, dynamics of 29 child abuse and interviewing and investigatory techniques. 30 (4) Each team shall classify, assess and review ,all31at a minimum, a representative sample of cases referred to 32 either the department or to law enforcement entities for investigation of 33 child abuse or neglect. 34 (5) Each multidisciplinary team shall develop policies that provide for 35 an independent review of investigation procedures utilized in cases upon com- 36 pletion of any court actions on those cases. The procedures shall include 37 independent citizen input. Nonoffending parents of child abuse victims shall 38 be notified of the review procedure. 39 (6) Prosecuting attorneys of the various counties may determine that 40 multidisciplinary teams may be most effectively established through the use of 41 joint exercise of powers agreements among more than one (1) county and such 42 agreements are hereby authorized.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS09151
The purpose of this legislation is to make it possible for the
MultiDisciplinary Teams (MDTs) to choose to use a
representative sampling of child abuse and neglect cases which
they consider. Currently the MDT is required to consider all
cases which, in some of the more populous counties, is a
physical impossibility.
FISCAL NOTE
No fiscal impact.
CONTACT: Senator Ipsen, 332-1326
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/ FISCAL NOTE
S 1242