VT H0213

Creates a new criminal offense of "torture of a child" defined as knowingly inflicting serious bodily injury or severe emotional distress on a child in one's custody, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and $10,000 fine, or up to 10 years and $20,000 if the child dies, suffers serious bodily injury, or is subjected to sexual conduct

Expands the list of offenses triggering mandatory law enforcement involvement in child abuse investigations to include cruelty to a child, torture of a child, domestic assaults committed in a child's presence, and general lewd and lascivious conduct

Requires (rather than permits) the Department for Children and Families to collaborate with child advocacy centers and empaneled multidisciplinary teams when evaluating risk to children and determining service needs

Mandates that reports not accepted for formal DCF investigation must be shared with local child advocacy centers and Special Investigation Units to evaluate potential criminal investigation or support services

Effective date of July 1, 2025