SB 171-MULTIDISCIPLINARY CHILD PROTECTION TEAMS  1:49:28 PM CHAIR COGHILL announced the consideration of SB 171."An Act relating to multidisciplinary child protection teams; and relating to investigation of child abuse or neglect." He noted that there was a work draft committee substitute (CS) and Ms. Moss would speak to it. 1:49:50 PM RYNNIEVA MAAS, Staff, Senator John Coghill, introduced SB 171 on behalf of the sponsor. She spoke to the following sponsor statement: The Child Justice Act Task Force requested this legislation to clarify there are child abuse cases that may not involve the Office of Children's Services (OCS) and the law is gray on whether or not a multidisciplinary investigative team can function under state statute without the involvement of OCS. An example of such an investigation would be a case in which one parent sexually abused a child and the other parent discovers the situation, reports the sexual abuse, removes the child from physical contact of the other parent, and the offending parent is arrested. [Multi-disciplinary teams] MDT's do conduct such investigations currently but there is some disagreement about whether or not this is occurring within the boundaries of the law. SB 171 takes uncertainty away. MS. MOSS reviewed the bill sections: Section 1. Current interpretation of this statute is the Office of Children's Services must establish a MDT, even though in many cases OCS is not involved with a child abuse case that involves sexual abuse. This section expands the ability to recruit a MDT to assist law enforcement in criminal investigations that involve an alleged crime against a child. Sec. 2. This section was modified to clarify who is usually part of the MDT team and lists who can be invited to be on the MDT permanently or as needed for the particular matter in an investigation. We have added a representative of an Indian tribe if applicable; not just someone familiar with ICWA as was the old language and have included in the list of invitees a representative from Division of Juvenile Justice. Sec. 3. This section was modified to clarify other members of the MDT can refer cases to the MDT, not just OCS. It also updates the statute to provide that confidential records in a CINA case shall be provided to members of the MDT. Sec. 4. Mandates monthly meetings. Sec. 5. Cleanup language to clarify the goal is to avoid duplicative interviews. Sec. 6. Clarifies investigations and interviews can be conducted by investigative agencies other than OCS. CHAIR COGHILL highlighted that the legislature helped establish child advocacy centers where these multi-disciplinary teams work. The purpose of the bill is to ensure that a child is not re-traumatized, and these teams are the best way to achieve that goal. MS. MOSS reported that these multi-disciplinary teams were established by statute in 1998 in House Bill 375. Then private citizen John Coghill waited for two days to testify on that piece of legislation and "it put the fire in his belly to run for office," she said. CHAIR COGHILL agreed that was the genesis of his political career. 1:55:17 PM JAN RUTHERDALE, Chair, Children's Justice Act Task Force, pointed out that there are two functions of the MDTs: 1) investigatory and 2) review of ongoing OCS cases. The bill clarifies that in those cases where OCS is not involved the protections of the statute still apply when law enforcement does an investigation. In the second function, OCS may find it needs the assistance of a multi-disciplinary team after it has filed a petition that is working its way through court so they refer the case to a MDT. In another circumstance, there may be people on the MDT that are concerned about how a case is progressing and they may refer the case to the MDT. CHAIR COGHILL commented that MDTs are able to break through the silos in the various departments that all have authority to deal with the child. SENATOR DYSON said he worked very hard to introduce child advocacy centers and their genius is that they greatly reduce the impact on a child. They've resulted in better cases going forward. 1:59:02 PM SENATOR DYSON moved to adopt work draft CS for SB 171, labeled 28-LS1416\U, as the working document. CHAIR COGHILL found no objection and announced that Version U was adopted. He announced that he would hold SB 171 in committee for further consideration.