SB 1449 Summary

• Establishes certification requirements for child and family advocacy centers to receive state funding, including accreditation by national organizations or annual certification to the attorney general that centers meet specified standards.

• Centers must operate a neutral facility with forensic interviewers, establish multidisciplinary case review teams with representatives from the department, county attorney, law enforcement, mental health providers, victim advocates, and forensic professionals, and provide or refer for medical evaluations and trauma-focused mental health treatment.

• Provides civil immunity from liability for employees and agents of qualifying centers participating in investigations and services, except in cases of malice or suspected abuse.

• Creates the child and family advocacy center fund administered by the attorney general, with up to 5% used for administrative costs and remaining funds distributed to qualifying centers (5% to statewide membership organization, 47.5% equally among centers, and 47.5% based on proportion of victims served).

• Appropriates $2,000,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2018-2019 to the child and family advocacy center fund.