2013 Kentucky Revised Statutes CHAPTER 211 - STATE HEALTH PROGRAMS 211.686 Authorization for coroners to establish local child fatality response teams -- Confidentiality of team proceedings and records.
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211.686 Authorization for coroners to establish local child fatality response
teams -- Confidentiality of team proceedings and records.
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A local child fatality response team may be established in every county or
group of contiguous counties by the coroner or coroners with jurisdiction in the
county or counties. The local coroner may authorize the creation of additional
local teams within the coroner's jurisdiction as needed.
Membership of the local team may include representatives of the coroner, the
local office of the Department for Community Based Services, law enforcement
agencies with investigation responsibilities for child fatalities which occur within
the jurisdiction of the local team, the Commonwealth's and county attorneys,
representatives of the medical profession, and other members whose
participation the local team believes is important to carry out its purpose. Each
local team member shall be appointed by the agency the member is
representing and shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
The purpose of the local child fatality response team shall be to:
(a) Allow each member to share specific and unique information with the
local team;
(b) Generate overall investigative direction and emphasis through team
coordination and sharing of specialized information;
(c) Create a body of information that will assist in the coroner's effort to
accurately identify the cause and reasons for death; and
(d) Facilitate the appropriate response by each member agency to the
fatality, including but not limited to, intervention on behalf of other children
who may be adversely affected by the situation, implementation of health
services necessary for protection of other citizens, further investigation by
law enforcement, or legal action by Commonwealth's or county attorneys.
The local team may:
(a) Analyze information regarding local child fatalities to identify trends,
patterns, and risk factors;
(b) Recommend to the state team, and any other entities deemed
appropriate, changes in state or local programs, legislation, administrative
regulations, policies, budgets, and treatment and service standards which
may facilitate strategies for prevention and reduce the number of child
fatalities; and
(c) Evaluate the effectiveness of local prevention and intervention strategies.
The local team may establish a protocol for the investigation of child fatalities
and may establish operating rules and procedures as it deems necessary to
carry out the purposes of this section.
The review of a child fatality by a local team may include information from
reports generated or received by agencies, organizations, or individuals that
are responsible for investigation, prosecution, or treatment in the case.
The proceedings, records, opinions, and deliberations of the local team shall
be privileged and shall not be subject to discovery, subpoena, or introduction
into evidence in any civil action in any manner that would directly or indirectly
identify specific persons or cases reviewed by the local team. Nothing in this
subsection shall be construed to restrict or limit the right to discover or use in
any civil action any evidence that is discoverable independent of the
proceedings of the local team.
Effective:July 14, 2000
History: Amended 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 14, sec. 43, effective July 14, 2000. -Created 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 347, sec. 4, effective July 15, 1996.
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