GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

2 

HOUSE BILL 358
Committee Substitute Favorable 5/5/93

Short Title:  Pros. Child Prot. Initiatives.	(Public)
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Sponsors:
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Referred to:  
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February 25, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CHILD FATALITY TASK FORCE TO ENCOURAGE PROSECUTORIAL CHILD PROTECTION INITIATIVES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Administrative Officer of the Courts shall encourage the district attorney in each prosecutorial district to develop and disseminate information about provisions for "child friendly" courtroom environments and preparation of child witnesses and for the use of videotaped and closed circuit testimony in the courtroom.
Sec. 2.  The North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys is encouraged to determine interest in setting up a special section for child abuse prosecutors and to set up such a section if it determines there is sufficient interest.
Sec. 3.  The North Carolina Department of Justice and the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys are encouraged to develop protocols and training, as follows:
(1)	For law enforcement agencies, protocols for conducting child abuse investigations;
(2)	For district attorneys, protocols for criminal prosecution of child abuse and neglect; and
(3)	For local multidisciplinary child abuse and neglect criminal investigation teams, protocols for operating policies and information sharing.
Sec. 4.  The North Carolina Department of Justice and the Administrative Officer of the Courts are encouraged to develop and disseminate the following job descriptions and working procedures:
(1)	For law enforcement agencies, job descriptions, and work procedures for law enforcement officers specializing in child abuse criminal investigations; and
(2)	For district attorneys, job descriptions, and work procedures for an assistant district attorney who handles all child abuse and neglect cases.
Sec. 5.  Nothing in this act obligates the General Assembly to appropriate any funds to implement this act.
Sec. 6.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1993.