The bill aims to revise the reporting laws related to sexual abuse and exploitation, specifically focusing on the responsibilities of county attorneys and the Department of Public Health and Human Services. It mandates that county attorneys request assistance from the department to identify alleged perpetrators when they are not initially identified. Additionally, the county attorney is required to report to the Attorney General the number of reports that did not lead to prosecution, along with other detailed case information. The reporting timeline has been adjusted, changing the submission date from June to July, and the Attorney General is tasked with providing annual reports to both the law and justice interim committee and the interim budget committees.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new requirements for the Department of Public Health and Human Services to report on referrals made to county attorneys and to advise the Attorney General if they believe a prosecution should be pursued for uncharged cases of sexual abuse or exploitation. The bill also emphasizes the need for thorough documentation and retention of records related to these cases, ensuring that the information is kept confidential while also enhancing accountability in the reporting process. Overall, the revisions aim to improve the handling of sexual abuse and exploitation cases, ensuring that more comprehensive data is collected and reported to facilitate better oversight and prosecution of such offenses.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 41-3-210, 41-3-211, 41-3-212