CCS/HCS/SCS/SB 256 - This act modifies provisions relating to child abuse and neglect.TASK FORCE ON THE PREVENTION OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN (Section 160.2100)
This act repeals the January 1, 2013, expiration date for the Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children. Beginning January 1, 2014, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in collaboration with the task force, shall make yearly reports to the General Assembly on the department's progress in preventing child sexual abuse.
SAFE PLACE FOR NEWBORNS ACT (Sections 1, 210.950 and 211.447)
This act modifies provisions relating to the Safe Place for Newborns Act of 2002. Under current law, a parent will not be prosecuted for the abandonment of a child up to 5 days old if he or she leaves the child in the custody of a medical facility staff member, provider or volunteer, a firefighter or emergency medical technician or with a law enforcement officer. This act increases that time period to up to 45 days after birth and includes maternity homes and pregnancy resource centers as a permissible place to relinquish a child.
No parent voluntarily relinquishing a child will be required to release any identifying information about the child or parent. No officer, employee, or agent of this state or any political subdivision can attempt to locate or determine the identity of a parent or disclose identifying information except in certain cases.
This act also specifies that the affirmative defense to prosecution for the abandonment of a child shall only be allowed for a defendant who voluntarily relinquishes a child no more than one year old and moves this provision from Section 210.950.3 to 210.950.11.
This act also allows a school district or charter school to provide annually to high school students enrolled in health education at least 30 minutes of age and grade appropriate classroom instruction relative to the Safe Place for Newborns Act of 2002. SECTION 1
FORENSIC EXAMINATIONS IN CHILD ABUSE CASES (Sections 595.220)
This act requires the Department of Public Safety to establish rules regarding the reimbursement of the costs of forensic examinations for children younger than 14 years of age, including establishing conditions and definitions for emergency and non-emergency forensic exams and specific qualifications for appropriate medical providers performing non-emergency forensic exams. The Department must provide reimbursements regardless of whether or not the findings indicate the child was abused.
This act also allows the department to establish additional qualifications for appropriate medical providers performing non-emergency forensic evaluations for children younger than 14 years of age. (Section 595.220)
The forensic examination provisions are contained in HCS/HB 505 (2013) and SCS/HCS/HB 215 (2013).
ADRIANE CROUSE