S.B. 167

1

CHILDREN'S JUSTICE CENTER PROGRAM AMENDMENTS
2 2012 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Ralph Okerlund
5 House Sponsor: Melvin R. Brown
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill adds three counties to the list of counties in which Children's Justice Centers
10 shall be established.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . adds Box Elder County, San Juan County, and Summit County to the list of
14 counties in which Children's Justice Centers shall be established.
15 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 AMENDS:
21 67-5b-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 129
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, physical
29 abuse of children, and other crimes involving children where the child is a primary victim or a
30 critical witness, such as in drug-related child endangerment cases, in a facility known as a
31 Children's Justice Center.
32 (b) The attorney general shall administer the program.
33 (c) The attorney general shall:
34 (i) allocate the funds appropriated by a line item pursuant to Section 67-5b-103 ;
35 (ii) administer applications for state and federal grants;
36 (iii) staff the Advisory Board on Children's Justice;
37 (iv) assist in the development of new centers; and
38 (v) coordinate services between centers.
39 (2) (a) The attorney general shall establish Children's Justice Centers or satellite offices
40 in Box Elder County, Cache County, Carbon County, Davis County, Duchesne County, Emery
41 County, Grand County, Iron County, Salt Lake County, Sanpete County, San Juan County,
42 Sevier County, Summit County, Tooele County, Uintah County, Utah County, Wasatch
43 County, Washington County, and Weber County.
44 (b) The attorney general may establish other centers within a county and in other
45 counties of the state.
46 (3) The attorney general and each center shall fulfill the statewide purpose of each
47 center by:
48 (a) minimizing the time and duplication of effort required to investigate, prosecute, and
49 initiate treatment for the abused child in the state;
50 (b) facilitating the investigation of the alleged offense against the abused child;
51 (c) conducting interviews of abused children and their families in a professional
52 manner;
53 (d) obtaining reliable and admissible information which can be used effectively in
54 criminal and child protection proceedings in the state;
55 (e) coordinating and tracking:
56 (i) the use of limited medical and psychiatric services;
57 (ii) investigation of the alleged offense;
58 (iii) preparation of prosecution;

59 (iv) treatment of the abused child and family; and
60 (v) education and training of persons who provide services to the abused child and its
61 family in the state;
62 (f) expediting the processing of the case through the courts in the state;
63 (g) protecting the interest of the abused child and the community in the state;
64 (h) reducing trauma to the abused child in the state;
65 (i) enhancing the community understanding of sexual abuse of children, physical abuse
66 of children, and other crimes in the state involving children where the child is a primary victim
67 or a critical witness, such as in drug-related child endangerment cases;
68 (j) providing as many services as possible that are required for the thorough and
69 effective investigation of child abuse cases; and
70 (k) enhancing the community understanding of criminal offenses committed against or
71 in the presence of children.
72 (4) To assist a center in fulfilling the requirements and statewide purposes as provided
73 in Subsection (3), each center may obtain access to any relevant juvenile court legal records
74 and adult court legal records, unless sealed by the court.
75 (5) The statewide purpose of this chapter is to establish a program that provides a
76 comprehensive, multidisciplinary, nonprofit, intergovernmental response to sexual abuse of
77 children, physical abuse of children, and other crimes involving children where the child is a
78 primary victim or a critical witness, such as drug-related child endangerment cases, in a facility
79 known as a Children's Justice Center.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-27-12 9:38 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel