MO HB2270

Amends Missouri law (Chapter 334) to establish definitions and provisions for SAFE CARE providers and child abuse medical resource centers in the state.

Defines SAFE CARE providers as physicians, advanced practice nurses, or physician's assistants licensed in Missouri who provide medical diagnosis and treatment to children suspected of abuse and receive Missouri-based training, ongoing updates, and peer review from the SAFE CARE network.

Allows child abuse medical resource centers and SAFE CARE providers to collaborate directly or through technology to provide specialized forensic medical evaluation training for child abuse victims without requiring a formal collaborative agreement.

Permits SAFE CARE providers within the network to collaborate with each other and child abuse medical resource centers to improve services for children suspected of abuse in hospitals, child advocacy centers, or private health care settings.

Requires the SAFE CARE network to develop recommendations on medically-based screening processes and forensic evidence collection for children following alleged sexual assault and distribute these recommendations to SAFE CARE providers, child advocacy centers, hospitals, and licensed practitioners.