00                            HOUSE BILL NO. 112                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to child protection, including forensic interviews and transportation of                               
02 children; and providing for an effective date."                                                                         
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  AS 47.17.064 is amended by adding new subsections to read:                                           
05            (c)  In addition to the authority provided in (a) of this section, the department                            
06       may, without the permission of the parents, guardian, or custodian, conduct or                                    
07       authorize a person to conduct a forensic interview of a child who the department has                              
08       reasonable cause to suspect has suffered sexual abuse or physical harm as a result of                             
09       child abuse or neglect.  The forensic interview authorized by this subsection may be                              
10       conducted only by the department, or by a peace officer or professional staff of a child                          
11       advocacy center authorized by the department.  The department shall notify the                                    
12       parents, guardian, or custodian of a child as soon as possible after taking action under                          
13       this subsection with regard to the child.                                                                         
14            (d)  The department may transport or authorize a third party to transport a child                            

01       for photographs or a medical or radiological examination under (a) of this section or a                           
02       forensic interview under (c) of this section.  Transportation of a child under this                               
03       section does not constitute the child being taken into emergency custody of the state                             
04       under AS 47.10.142.                                                                                               
05            (e)  The state and the department, its officers, its employees, and its agents are                           
06       not liable for civil damages as a result of actions taken or omissions that occurred in                           
07       the transportation authorized under this section, except for conduct that constitutes                             
08       gross negligence.                                                                                                 
09            (f)  In this section,                                                                                        
10                 (1)  "child advocacy center" means a facility with a child-focused,                                     
11       community-based program that includes representatives from law enforcement, child                                 
12       protection, criminal prosecution, victim advocacy, and the medical and mental health                              
13       fields, who collaborate and assist in investigations of allegations of sexual or other                            
14       abuse, and neglect, of children;                                                                                  
15                 (2)  "peace officer" has the meaning given in AS 11.81.900.                                             
16    * Sec. 2.  The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                         
17 read:                                                                                                                   
18       REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION.  The revisor of statutes is instructed to change the                                       
19 heading of AS 14.17.064 from "Photographs and x-rays" to "Photographs and other                                         
20 authorized procedures."                                                                                                 
21    * Sec. 3.  This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).