SB 1867

Present law provides that a video recording of a child by a forensic interviewer containing a statement made by the child under 18 describing an act of sexual or physically violent contact performed with or on the child by a person , or describing an act of sexual or physically violent contact performed by a person with or on another and witnessed by the child , is admissible and may be considered for its bearing on any matter to which it is relevant in evidence at any stage of a criminal proceeding of the p erson for any offense arising from the contact if certain requirements are met . One such criterion is that the interview was conducted by a forensic interviewer who met certain qualifications at the time the video recording was made, as determined by the court , including either:  Was employed by a child advocacy center that meets certain requirements .  Was employed by a federal agency and conducted the forensic interview in the course of an investigation of a federal crime . Until July 1, 2031, this bill adds as another possible option to the two options above that the forensic interviewer w as employed by the department of children's services and the interview was conducted under the supervision of a child advocacy center that meets certain requirement s. A department employee conducting a forensic interview must meet all of the following requirements :  Had g raduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in a field related to social service, education, criminal justice, nursing, psychology or other similar profession .  Ha d either (i) experience equivalent to three years of full-time professional work in c hild protective services , c riminal justice , c linical evaluation , c ounseling , or f orensic interviewing , or other comparable work with children; or (ii) been supervised by an experienced forensic interviewer for a minimum of 20 forensic interviews, in addition to the required hours of interviewing described below.  Had completed a minimum of 40 hours of forensic training in interviewing traumatized children and 15 hours of continuing education annually .  Had completed a minimum of eight hours of interviewing under the supervision of a qualified forensic interviewer of children .  Had knowledge of child development through coursework, professional training or experience .  Had no criminal history as determined through a criminal records background check .  Had actively participated in peer review .