HF 3003

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/12/2014 11:34am

A bill for an act
relating to judiciary; requiring judicial training on needs of child witnesses;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 480.30, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 480.30, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Child abuse; domestic abuse; harassment.

The Supreme Court's
judicial education program must include ongoing training for district court judges on child
and adolescent sexual abuse, domestic abuse, harassment, stalking, and related civil and
criminal court issues. The program must include the following:

(1) information about the specific needs of victims;

(2) education on the causes of sexual abuse and family violence;

(3) education on culturally responsive approaches to serving victims;

(4) education on the impacts of domestic abuse and domestic abuse allegations on
children and the importance of considering these impacts when making parenting time and
child custody decisions under chapter 518; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(5) information on alleged and substantiated reports of domestic abuse, including,
but not limited to, Department of Human Services survey data new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (6) information about the specific needs of child witnesses during testimony new text end .

The program also must emphasize the need for the coordination of court and legal
victim advocacy services and include education on sexual abuse and domestic abuse
programs and policies within law enforcement agencies and prosecuting authorities as
well as the court system.