CS/HB 1285 Summary

• Defines "mental injury" in child abuse cases as injury to intellectual or psychological capacity evidenced by discernible and substantial impairment, requiring expert testimony support.

• Establishes expert witness credentials requirements: physicians must be licensed and board-certified in psychiatry for mental injury testimony; psychologists must be licensed under chapter 490 for mental injury testimony in criminal child abuse cases.

• Expands crime victims compensation by redefining "crime" to include psychiatric or psychological injury to persons under 18 years of age not physically injured, and expands "victim" definition to include minors suffering mental injury from crimes.

• Updates Criminal Punishment Code severity rankings for child abuse and neglect offenses with cross-reference corrections throughout sentencing guidelines.

• Effective date: October 1, 2012.