House Bill 823 Summary

• Establishes eligibility criteria for Children's Advocacy Centers to receive state or federal funds, including requirements for trauma-informed facilities, forensic interviews, multidisciplinary teams with representatives from law enforcement, prosecutors, child protective services, mental health, and medical providers.

• Requires eligible centers to maintain written protocols for case review, confidentiality, information sharing, victim support, and advocacy services that comply with state and national standards and are reviewed every three years.

• Authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services and multidisciplinary team members to share child maltreatment information subject to state and federal law, with protections for confidentiality and limits on redisclosure.

• Establishes that Children's Advocacy Center records created for referred children are confidential and can only be released to authorized entities (law enforcement, prosecutors, health care providers, Department of Health and Human Services) or by court order with in camera inspection.

• Provides immunity from civil liability for board members, staff, and volunteers of Children's Advocacy Centers acting in good faith within their duties, except for gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing; effective July 1, 2023.