S.B. 135

1

EXPANSION OF CHILDREN'S JUSTICE
2 CENTER PROGRAM
3 1998 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Craig A. Peterson
6 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES; EXPANDING THE
7 LOCATIONS OF CHILDREN'S JUSTICE CENTERS.
8 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
9 AMENDS:
10 67-5b-102, as last amended by Chapter 377, Laws of Utah 1997
11 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
12 Section 1. Section 67-5b-102 is amended to read:
13 67-5b-102. Children's Justice Center -- Requirements of center -- Purposes of center.
14 (1) (a) There is established a program that provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary,
15 nonprofit, intergovernmental response to sexual abuse of children and serious physical abuse of
16 children in a facility known as a Children's Justice Center.
17 (b) The attorney general shall administer the program.
18 (c) The attorney general shall:
19 (i) allocate the funds appropriated by a line item pursuant to Section 67-5b-103;
20 (ii) administer applications for state and federal grants;
21 (iii) staff the Advisory Board on Children's Justice;
22 (iv) assist in the development of new centers; and
23 (v) coordinate services between centers.
24 (2) (a) The attorney general shall establish Children's Justice Centers in Cache County,
25 Carbon County, Davis County, Duchesne County, Salt Lake County, Tooele County, Utah County,
26 Washington County, and Weber County.
27 (b) The attorney general may establish other centers within a county and in other counties

1 of the state.
2 (3) The attorney general and each center shall fulfill the statewide purpose of each center
3 by:
4 (a) minimizing the time and duplication of effort required to investigate, prosecute, and
5 initiate treatment for the abused child in the state;
6 (b) facilitating the investigation of the alleged offense against the abused child;
7 (c) conducting interviews of abused children and their families in a professional manner;
8 (d) obtaining reliable and admissible information which can be used effectively in criminal
9 and child protection proceedings in the state;
10 (e) coordinating and tracking:
11 (i) the use of limited medical and psychiatric services;
12 (ii) investigation of the alleged offense;
13 (iii) preparation of prosecution;
14 (iv) treatment of the abused child and family; and
15 (v) education and training of persons who provide services to the abused child and its
16 family in the state;
17 (f) expediting the processing of the case through the courts in the state;
18 (g) protecting the interest of the abused child and the community in the state;
19 (h) reducing trauma to the abused child in the state;
20 (i) enhancing the community understanding of sexual abuse of children and serious
21 physical abuse of children in the state; and
22 (j) providing as many services as possible that are required for the thorough and effective
23 investigation of child abuse cases.
24 (4) To assist a center in fulfilling the requirements and statewide purposes as provided in
25 Subsection (3), each center may obtain access to any relevant juvenile court legal records and adult
26 court legal records, unless sealed by the court.
27 (5) The statewide purpose of this chapter is to establish a program that provides a
28 comprehensive, multidisciplinary, nonprofit, intergovernmental response to sexual abuse of
29 children and serious physical abuse of children in a facility known as a Children's Justice Center.


- 2 -

Legislative Review Note
as of 1-21-98 4:44 PM

A limited legal review of this bill raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

- 3 -