Art. 509.  Development of interagency protocols; drafting committee membership; meetings; compliance deadline

A.  In each judicial district, the district attorney or his designee shall establish a child abuse protocol committee and convene its meetings.

B.  At a minimum, each committee shall include the following members:

(1)  A representative of the office of children and family services, Department of Children and Family Services.

(2)  The district attorney or his designee.

(3)  The coroner or his designee who has responsibility in the district for the investigation of child abuse cases or expertise in the evaluation of child victims.

(4)  A representative of the sheriff and of any other law enforcement agency having responsibility in the district for the investigation of child abuse.

(5)  A licensed mental health professional who is experienced in the evaluation of child victims.

(6)  A licensed medical professional who is experienced in the evaluation of child victims.

(7)  A representative of a child advocacy center that is serving the district or if there is no child advocacy center, a child advocate who is appointed by the juvenile court, or if there is no juvenile court, a child advocate appointed by the division of the district court that hears juvenile cases.

(8)  A representative of any other community agency which in the opinion of other team members would contribute to the development of comprehensive and integrated protocols.

C.  The committee shall confect protocols in accordance with Article 510 of this Part and shall meet as often as needed to complete that task no later than August 15, 2006.  Thereafter, the committee shall be convened upon the request of any team member in order to consider any proposed modifications to the existing protocols.

Acts 2003, No. 749, §1.