Public Law 117–354: To amend chapter 33 of title 28, United States Code, to require appropriate use of multidisciplinary teams for investigations of child sexual exploitation or abuse, the production of child sexual abuse material, or child trafficking conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

the term ‘’ means a visual depiction described in section 2256(8)(A) of title 18;

the term ‘’ means any investigation of child sexual exploitation or abuse, the production of child sexual abuse material, or child trafficking conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation;

the term ‘’ means the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation;

the term ‘’ means a multidisciplinary team established or used under subsection (b)(2);

the term ‘’s advocacy center personnel’ means children’s advocacy center staff that regularly participate in multidisciplinary child support settings, including the director of the children’s advocacy center, the coordinator of a multidisciplinary team, forensic interviewers, victim advocates, forensic medical evaluators, physicians, sexual assault nurse examiners, and mental health clinicians; and

the term ‘’ means a person, whether paid or serving as a volunteer, who provides services to victims under the auspices or supervision of a victim services program.

To carry out the functions described in subsection (c) in connection with each covered investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Director shall, unless unavailable or otherwise inconsistent with applicable Federal law—

“(B)

The Director shall use and coordinate with children’s advocacy center-based multidisciplinary teams as necessary to carry out paragraph (1).

The Director—

The Director shall submit to the Attorney General an annual report identifying any interview of a victim reporting child sexual abuse material or child trafficking that took place—

“(A)

The Director shall seek to enter into a memorandum of understanding with a reputable national accrediting organization for children’s advocacy centers—

“(A)

To provide for the sharing of information among the members of a multidisciplinary team, when such a team is used, and with other appropriate personnel regarding the progress of a covered investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

To provide for and enhance collaborative efforts among the members of a multidisciplinary team, when such a team 136 STAT. 6272 is used, and other appropriate personnel regarding a covered investigation.

To enhance the social services available to victims in connection with a covered investigation, including through the enhancement of cooperation among specialists and other personnel providing such services in connection with a covered investigation.

To carry out other duties regarding the response to investigations of child sexual abuse or trafficking.

Each multidisciplinary team shall be composed of the following:

“(B)

Included information.—

“(C)

Exempt information.—

Children’s advocacy centers shall provide the Federal Bureau of Investigation with forensic interview recordings and documentation, medical reports, and other case information on Federal Bureau of Investigation-related cases.

share information about case progress;

address any investigative or prosecutorial barriers; and

ensure that victims receive support and needed treatment.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to augment any existing investigative authority of the Federal Bureau of Investigation or to expand the jurisdiction of any Federal law enforcement agency.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the legal obligations of the Director under any other provision of law, including section 552a of title 5 (commonly known as the ‘Privacy Act of 1974’), or require the sharing of classified information with unauthorized persons.”

provide technical assistance, training, coordination, and organizational capacity support for State chapters; and”

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establish and maintain a network of care for child abuse victims where investigation, prosecutions, and interventions are continually occurring and coordinating activities within local children’s advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams;

develop, enhance, and coordinate multidisciplinary child abuse investigations, intervention, and prosecution activities;

promote the effective delivery of the evidence-based, trauma-informed Children’s Advocacy Center Model and the multidisciplinary response to child abuse; and

develop and disseminate practice standards for care and best practices in programmatic evaluation, and support State chapter organizational capacity and local children’s 136 STAT. 6276 advocacy center organizational capacity and operations in order to meet such practice standards and best practices.”

Forensic interviews of child victims by trained personnel that are used by law enforcement, health, and child protective service agencies to interview suspected abuse victims about allegations of abuse.

Provision of needed follow up services such as medical care, mental healthcare, and victims advocacy services.

A requirement that, to the extent practicable, all interviews and meetings with a child victim occur at the children’s advocacy center or an agency with which there is a linkage agreement regarding the delivery of multidisciplinary child abuse investigation, prosecution, and intervention services.

Coordination of each step of the investigation process to eliminate duplicative forensic interviews with a child victim.

Designation of a director for the children’s advocacy center.

Designation of a multidisciplinary team coordinator.

Assignment of a volunteer or staff advocate to each child in order to assist the child and, when appropriate, the child’s family, throughout each step of intervention and judicial proceedings.

Coordination with State chapters to assist and provide oversight, and organizational capacity that supports local children’s advocacy centers, multidisciplinary teams, and communities working to implement a multidisciplinary response to child abuse in the provision of evidence-informed initiatives, including mental health counseling, forensic interviewing, multidisciplinary team coordination, and victim advocacy.

Such other criteria as the Administrator shall establish by regulation.”