AZ HB2401

Requires the Department of Child Safety to develop initial screening and safety assessment protocols in consultation with the attorney general, county attorneys, law enforcement, medical experts, and victim advocates.

Mandates that each county establish investigation protocols through cooperation between the county attorney, sheriff, municipal law enforcement, and the department to guide investigations of criminal allegations against children.

Requires investigation protocols to include standards for interdisciplinary investigations, forensic medical evaluations, information sharing procedures, training requirements for child protective services workers and law enforcement, and dispute resolution procedures.

Establishes annual reporting requirements for child protective services and county attorneys to submit independent reports within 45 days after each fiscal year to the governor, legislature, and attorney general, including data on criminal investigations, charges filed, and reasons charges were not pursued.

Designates reports as public documents and requires each reporting entity to prepare and submit reports independently without communication with other reporting agencies.