Bill > SB743

This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) and law enforcement agencies to electronically record interviews with alleged perpetrators of child abuse during investigations under specific Oregon Revised Statutes. The recordings must capture interviews with the suspected abuser, with several notable exceptions, such as statements made before a grand jury, in open court, or spontaneously volunteered. The bill defines "good cause" for not electronically recording an interview, which includes situations like equipment failure, subject refusal to be recorded, potential safety risks, or when the interviewer initially believed the conversation was unrelated to the investigation. While electronic recording is mandatory for interviews with alleged perpetrators, it remains optional for interviews with other subjects involved in the child abuse investigation. The bill also specifies that these recordings will be considered official records for the purposes of Oregon Revised Statute 419B.035, ensuring that electronically recorded interviews have legal standing and can be used in subsequent proceedings related to child abuse investigations.

Education

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/SB743