SECOND REGULAR SESSION
94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES HUBBARD (Sponsor), EL-AMIN, FAITH, GRILL, ROBINSON, NASHEED, HOSKINS, RUCKER, BROWN (50), JETTON, NIEVES, PRATT, JONES (117), NANCE, SMITH (150), WALLACE, WILSON (130), PARSON, FRANZ, FLOOK, SCHLOTTACH, KINGERY, COOPER (120), CURLS, DAUS, HUGHES, WILSON (119), CUNNINGHAM (145) AND DIXON (Co-sponsors).
Read 1st time February 29, 2008 and copies ordered printed.
D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 455, RSMo, by adding thereto two new sections relating to services for victims of child abuse, rape, and domestic violence.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 455, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto two new sections, to be known as sections 455.175 and 455.180, to read as follows:
455.175. 1. There is hereby created the "Missouri Child Abuse, Rape, and Domestic Violence Commission", to be composed of the following twenty-five persons:
(1) A representative of domestic violence programs or domestic violence services providers in this state;
(2) A physician specializing in the treatment of child abuse;
(3) A prosecuting attorney;
(4) A defense attorney;
(5) A representative of a victim-witness program;
(6) A representative of a law enforcement training program;
(7) A representative of education;
(8) A representative of a parents' group;
(9) A mental health professional specializing in the treatment of child abuse, domestic violence, or rape;
(10) A representative of city or county law enforcement;
(11) A representative of children with disabilities;
(12) A municipal or circuit judge;
(13) A representative of rape crisis centers;
(14) A representative of the Missouri hospital association;
(15) A court appointed special advocate (CASA) representative;
(16) A guardian ad litem;
(17) A representative of area health education center programs;
(18) A representative of sex offender treatment programs;
(19) Two members of the public;
(20) The director of the department of public safety, or the director's designee;
(21) The director of the children's division, or the director's designee;
(22) The director of the department of health and senior services, or the director's representative;
(23) The attorney general, or the attorney general's designee; and
(24) A representative of the Missouri state highway patrol crime laboratory.
2. The governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint the member of the commission listed in subdivisions (1) to (19) of subsection 1 of this section. Each appointed member shall serve for a term of two years; except that, of the initial members appointed ten shall be appointed for a term of two years and ten shall be appointed for a term of three years. Members may be reappointed.
3. Members appointed to the commission may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the commission.
4. The commission shall be an advisory body only and shall act in an advisory capacity to the child abuse, rape, and domestic violence section within the department of social services.
455.180. 1. There is hereby created the "Child Abuse, Rape, and Domestic Violence Section" within the department of social services.
2. The child abuse, rape, and domestic violence section shall have the authority and responsibility to:
(1) Administer and distribute rape moneys received through the preventive health services block grant, and any other federal and grant moneys received for child abuse, rape, or domestic violence, including coordination of administration and distribution of moneys received from the Children's Justice Act with the task force on children's justice in accordance with section 210.187, RSMo;
(2) Receive and expend grants, donations, and moneys from public and private sources to carry out the section's responsibilities;
(3) Educate professionals, law enforcement officers, prosecuting attorneys, trial and appellate judges, municipal judges, department employees, and other victim service providers regarding issues, interventions, and other matters associated with child abuse, rape, and domestic violence;
(4) Research, develop, and disseminate resource materials as needed;
(5) Facilitate the development of and contract with local multidisciplinary teams throughout the state for the purpose of providing coordinated investigation and service delivery to child victims of severe maltreatment;
(6) Authorize local multidisciplinary teams throughout the state to review instances of child deaths involving children ages birth through seventeen years of age;
(7) Provide support, coordination, and technical assistance to providers of services for rape, domestic violence, and child abuse victims;
(8) Develop a database for use in Missouri which addresses information about the effectiveness of treatment programs and other intervention efforts in the areas of domestic violence, child abuse, child sexual abuse, and rape and which focuses on interventions with victims, families, and perpetrators;
(9) Advise the governor as to the immediate needs and priorities surrounding the issues of child abuse, domestic violence, and rape;
(10) Contract and be contracted with;
(11) Provide consultation and technical assistance to professionals regarding child abuse, rape, and domestic violence; and
(12) Work with the departments of health and senior services and public safety to carry out the provisions of this section.
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