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Committee advances bill to broaden children’s advocacy services to witnesses of violence
Summary
The Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning Committee voted 11-0 to report House Bill 1028 out of committee with a due-pass recommendation, updating statutes to allow children’s advocacy centers and forensic interviewers to serve children who witness violence.
The Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning Committee on Tuesday voted 11-0 to report House Bill 1028 out of committee with a due-pass recommendation.
Representative Goodman, sponsor, told the committee the bill updates state statute "related to our children's advocacy centers, based on years of experience, and then particularly, making sure that the children's advocacy centers and child intervention specialists and forensic interviewers are available to help children who merely witness violence and not are direct, victims of violence themselves." She urged passage of the measure.
The bill would expand the statutory role of children's advocacy centers and affiliated staff to explicitly include children who witnessed violence, not only those who were direct victims. Supporters said the change is an important intervention to help children exposed to traumatic events. Ranking member Eslick said the caucus supports the bill.
The committee conducted a roll call and the clerk reported 11 ayes, 0 nays. By that vote, House Bill 1028 was reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation.
The committee did not record any amendments to the bill in the transcript and no subsequent committee direction was specified.
