Report Child Sexual Assault & Courtroom Testimony

The bill requires a law enforcement entity that receives a report alleging an offense involving sexual assault or abuse of a child to contact a child advocacy center within the judicial district where the alleged crime occurred, or the nearest child advocacy center if the judicial district where the alleged crime occurred does not have a child advocacy center, within 24 hours after taking the report. The law enforcement entity is required to collaborate with the child advocacy center in requesting a forensic interview for the alleged child victim.

The bill creates a rebuttable presumption that a witness who is a child or a person who has an intellectual and developmental disability will suffer serious emotional distress or trauma from courtroom testimony when the defendant is present.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)