The bill amends the North Dakota Century Code to update the definition of a "children's advocacy center" and enhance the confidentiality provisions regarding records and communications within these centers. Specifically, it redefines a children's advocacy center as an "accredited" entity that coordinates investigations into child abuse allegations, providing a child-friendly environment for forensic interviews and medical examinations. This change replaces the previous term "fullan" with "accredited" to ensure clarity and adherence to national standards.

Additionally, the bill strengthens the confidentiality of records related to forensic medical examinations, interviews, and advocacy services by specifying that such records may only be released to certain authorized individuals, including law enforcement, prosecutors, and medical professionals, upon a judge's subpoena. It also allows staff of children's advocacy centers to communicate with relevant authorities for professional purposes and introduces a provision for criminal history record checks for individuals associated with the centers who have contact with children. These amendments aim to improve the operational integrity and protective measures surrounding children's advocacy centers in North Dakota.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 50-25.1-02, 50-25.1-11.1
Adopted by the Senate Human Services Committee: 50-25.1-02, 50-25.1-11.1
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 50-25.1-02, 50-25.1-11.1
Enrollment: 50-25.1-02, 50-25.1-11.1