S.B. 93

1

CHILDREN'S JUSTICE CENTER ADDITION
2 2005 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Thomas V. Hatch
5
6 LONG TITLE
7 General Description:
8 This bill adds Iron County to the list of counties with Children's Justice Centers.
9 Highlighted Provisions:
10 This bill:
11 . adds Iron County to the list of Children's Justice Centers sites.
12 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
13 This bill appropriates:
14 . as an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, $127,500 from the
15 General Fund for fiscal year 2005-06 to the Office of the Attorney General for
16 Children's Justice Centers to replace lapsing federal grant funding.
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 AMENDS:
21 67-5b-102, as last amended by Chapter 376, Laws of Utah 2001
22
23 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 Section 1. Section 67-5b-102 is amended to read:
25 67-5b-102. Children's Justice Center -- Requirements of center -- Purposes of
26 center.
27 (1) (a) There is established a program that provides a comprehensive,

28 multidisciplinary, nonprofit, intergovernmental response to sexual abuse of children and
29 serious physical abuse of children in a facility known as a Children's Justice Center.
30 (b) The attorney general shall administer the program.
31 (c) The attorney general shall:
32 (i) allocate the funds appropriated by a line item pursuant to Section 67-5b-103 ;
33 (ii) administer applications for state and federal grants;
34 (iii) staff the Advisory Board on Children's Justice;
35 (iv) assist in the development of new centers; and
36 (v) coordinate services between centers.
37 (2) (a) The attorney general shall establish Children's Justice Centers or satellite offices
38 in Cache County, Carbon County, Davis County, Duchesne County, Emery County, Grand
39 County, Iron County, Salt Lake County, Tooele County, Uintah County, Utah County, Wasatch
40 County, Washington County, and Weber County.
41 (b) The attorney general may establish other centers within a county and in other
42 counties of the state.
43 (3) The attorney general and each center shall fulfill the statewide purpose of each
44 center by:
45 (a) minimizing the time and duplication of effort required to investigate, prosecute, and
46 initiate treatment for the abused child in the state;
47 (b) facilitating the investigation of the alleged offense against the abused child;
48 (c) conducting interviews of abused children and their families in a professional
49 manner;
50 (d) obtaining reliable and admissible information which can be used effectively in
51 criminal and child protection proceedings in the state;
52 (e) coordinating and tracking:
53 (i) the use of limited medical and psychiatric services;
54 (ii) investigation of the alleged offense;
55 (iii) preparation of prosecution;
56 (iv) treatment of the abused child and family; and
57 (v) education and training of persons who provide services to the abused child and its
58 family in the state;

59 (f) expediting the processing of the case through the courts in the state;
60 (g) protecting the interest of the abused child and the community in the state;
61 (h) reducing trauma to the abused child in the state;
62 (i) enhancing the community understanding of sexual abuse of children and serious
63 physical abuse of children in the state; and
64 (j) providing as many services as possible that are required for the thorough and
65 effective investigation of child abuse cases.
66 (4) To assist a center in fulfilling the requirements and statewide purposes as provided
67 in Subsection (3), each center may obtain access to any relevant juvenile court legal records
68 and adult court legal records, unless sealed by the court.
69 (5) The statewide purpose of this chapter is to establish a program that provides a
70 comprehensive, multidisciplinary, nonprofit, intergovernmental response to sexual abuse of
71 children and serious physical abuse of children in a facility known as a Children's Justice
72 Center.
73 Section 2. Appropriation.
74 As an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, there is appropriated
75 $127,500 from the General Fund for fiscal year 2005-06 to the Office of the Attorney General
76 for Children's Justice Centers.




Legislative Review Note
as of 12-1-04 4:11 PM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel