ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 639	By:	David, Treat, Ivester and Griffin of the Senate

			and

		Hulbert of the House

[ Child Abuse Response Team - increasing certain full-time equivalent positions - Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation - effective date ]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     74 O.S. 2011, Section 150.38, as amended by Section 3, Chapter 153, O.S.L. 2012 (74 O.S. Supp. 2012, Section 150.38), is amended to read as follows:
Section 150.38.  A.  Subject to the availability of funds, there is hereby established within the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation the Child Abuse Response Team (CART) for the purpose of investigating cases of physical and sexual abuse of a child.  For the purpose of implementing CART, the Bureau shall employ at least one five Child Abuse Response Team (CART) investigator investigators and at least one three Child Abuse Response Team (CART) forensic interviewer interviewers which shall be full-time-equivalent positions within the Bureau, compensated at the same pay rate as a senior level investigator agent.
B.  In addition to any other law or rule specifying requirements or qualifications for an OSBI agent to be employed by the Bureau, the Child Abuse Response Team employees shall be qualified for the respective positions as follows:
1.  Every CART investigator shall:
a.	have at least five (5) years' experience as a law enforcement officer or criminal investigator in a law enforcement agency or agencies with preference given to additional years in law enforcement,
b.	be currently certified as a peace officer by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET),
c.	have served as the primary criminal investigative officer in a law enforcement agency or agencies with experience as the primary investigative officer on at least five hundred cases of physical or sexual abuse of a child, and
d.	have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor degree with preference given to a post-graduate degree, and
e.	be not currently employed by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, nor employed by such agency within the previous six (6) months immediately preceding an application for the position of CART investigator.
2.  Every CART forensic interviewer shall:
a.	have experience in conducting forensic interviews and shall have conducted a minimum of five hundred child forensic interviews in cases of physical or sexual abuse of a child,
b.	have graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor degree with preference given to a post-graduate degree,
c.	have experience as an expert witness and shall have been certified as an expert witness in cases of physical or sexual abuse of a child in at least twenty-five legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction, and
d.	have completed at least one hundred (100) hours of education or training on forensic interviewing of a child, and
e.	be not currently employed by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, nor employed by such agency within the previous six (6) months immediately preceding an application for the position of CART forensic interviewer.
3.  If the director of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is unable to find a person whose qualifications meet or exceed the qualifications specified for the position of CART investigator or CART forensic interviewer, the director is authorized to offer such position to a person whose qualifications substantially meet the qualifications specified for the position.
C.  The Bureau may promulgate rules, procedures and forms necessary to establish and implement the functions of the Child Abuse Response Team and to coordinate responsibilities with other persons or agencies having responsibilities relating to child abuse investigation and response to child abuse.  Members of the Child Abuse Response Team are authorized, when available, to be involved and utilized in investigations of crimes other than cases of physical and sexual abuse of a child.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2013.
Passed the Senate the 13th day of March, 2013.

	
	Presiding Officer of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2013.

	
	Presiding Officer of the House
	of Representatives