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Committee advances bill to enshrine confidentiality for children’s advocacy center communications
Summary
Senate Bill 2,173 would add explicit confidentiality for discussions and advocacy‑related communications at accredited children’s advocacy centers; supporters said the change codifies current practice and clarifies protections for forensic interviews, medical exams and victim advocacy.
The House Human Services Committee heard and then advanced Senate Bill 2,173, which would expand confidentiality protections for communications and records held by accredited children’s advocacy centers.
Sponsor Senator Julie Lee said the bill adds the term "accredited" to clarify the role of centers that meet National Children’s Alliance standards and would make forensic interviews, forensic medical exams and advocacy discussions confidential among the multidisciplinary team responding to child abuse allegations.
Greg Kasowski, executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of North Dakota, told the committee the change fills a gap: the Century Code already protects records and digital media but was not explicit about verbal communications and case‑related discussions. Kasowski said the amendment clarifies that recorded interviews and the related conversations among law enforcement, human services and medical staff are protected to reduce re‑traumatization of child victims.
Committee members asked how the confidentiality works in practice and which parties can access material. Kasowski said the existing code already lists limited exceptions — for example, court orders and disclosures to law enforcement or prosecutors — and that the bill clarifies but does not broaden who may see those materials.
The committee voted to give the bill a do‑pass recommendation and to refer it to the next step in the process.
Ending: Supporters said the bill codifies long‑standing practice at accredited centers and that the change is intended to reduce additional trauma to children by limiting repeated disclosures during investigations.
