Bill > HB527

This bill revises procedures for handling alleged child abuse cases by requiring each judicial circuit, rather than each county, to establish a protocol committee chaired by the chief juvenile court judge or a designated juvenile court judge. This committee is responsible for developing detailed written protocols for investigating and prosecuting child abuse, aiming to improve agency coordination, reduce stress for the child, and ensure better treatment for all involved. The bill expands the committee's membership to include representatives from various agencies and organizations, such as sexual assault centers and court-appointed special advocate programs, and clarifies that failure to comply with court orders to participate can result in contempt of court charges. Protocols must now be filed with the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which will then share them with the Division of Family and Children Services and the Office of the Child Advocate, and must include specific procedures for when law enforcement officers should accompany child abuse investigators, as well as detailed guidelines for investigating sexual abuse and exploitation cases, including obtaining and paying for forensic examinations. The protocol committee must meet annually to evaluate and update the protocol, filing the updated version by July 1st each year, and submit an annual report by the same date evaluating compliance, recommending improvements, and describing successful prevention measures, with a certification of annual compliance due to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council by December 31st, which will report non-compliant circuits to state leadership.

Justice

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70507