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CS/HB 417 — Pub. Rec./Child Advocacy Center Personnel and Child Protection Team Members

by Oversight, Transparency and Administration Subcommittee; and Rep. Jenne (CS/SB 1212 by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; and Senator Book and Rader)

This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.

Prepared by: Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee (CF)

/HB 417 exempts the home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and photographs of current and former employees and their family members of a child advocacy center from public records requirements. Child advocacy centers are community-based, child-focused facilities where children alleged to be victims of abuse or neglect are interviewed, receive medical exams, therapy, and other critical services in a child friendly environment. A variety of professionals assist in the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases.

The bill also exempts the personal information of current or former child protection team members and their family members from public records requirements. A child protection team is a local medical multidisciplinary group that works with the Department of Children and Families and some sheriff's offices in cases of physical abuse or neglect or sexual abuse of a child. The teams provide expertise in evaluating alleged child abuse and neglect, assessing risk and protective factors, and providing recommendations for interventions to protect children. The bill also exempts names of spouses and children, as well as places of employment and the names and locations of schools and day care facilities attended by children of these personnel.

The bill includes a constitutionally required public necessity statement. The exemption will be repealed on October 2, 2023, pursuant to the Open Government Sunset Review Act unless it is reenacted.

If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2018.

Vote: Senate 36-0; House 114-0