H-1666.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1883
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1995 Regular Session
By Representatives Stevens, Backlund, Carrell, Campbell, Benton, Boldt and Thompson
Read first time 02/13/95. Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.
AN ACT Relating to child abuse; adding a new section to chapter 26.44 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that child abuse and neglect are heinous crimes that cannot be tolerated and the strongest possible message must be sent that child abusers will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
The legislature also finds that certain types of technology, such as videotaping, can aid in the prosecution or defense of a person accused of abusing a child. In child abuse court cases this technology has been used, and the expansion of its use will provide law enforcement with a powerful tool to convict people who harm children. It will also help those who are falsely accused establish their innocence.
Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to require the division of children and family services and law enforcement agencies to videotape interviews with children when such interviews relate to accusations of child abuse or neglect.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 26.44 RCW to read as follows:
Whenever, in the course of an investigation of suspected abuse or neglect of a child, the department of social and health services or any law enforcement agency conducts an interview of the child who may have been abused or neglected, the department or agency shall videotape, or provide for videotaping, the interview.
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