SB 362 - This act provides that, subject to appropriations, the Department of Public Safety shall contract with an entity with statewide expertise in domestic violence policy to coordinate review of domestic violence fatalities. The coordinating entity shall be authorized to convene regional review panels, gather information and provide training and technical assistance to such panels. The coordinating entity shall also compile information and issue biennial reports to the department as well as establish a protocol for identifying domestic violence related fatalities and selecting which cases to review. The coordinating agency may convene a regional panel to review any domestic violence fatality.
Private citizens may request the coordinating agency to review a particular death within two years of the death. Of these requests, the appropriate regional review panel may review those cases which fit the criteria set forth in the protocol established by the coordinating entity.
The composition of the members of the regional review panels is prescribed in the act, including medical personnel, coroners or medical examiners, and law enforcement personnel. The regional review panels shall make periodic reports to the coordinating entity and a final report to the entity with regard to every fatality that is reviewed.
ADRIANE CROUSE