Domestic Violence Training Court Personnel

The act increases and clarifies domestic violence training requirements (training) for court personnel (personnel) who are regularly involved in cases related to domestic matters, including child and family investigators, parenting responsibility evaluators, and legal representatives of children.

Training for all personnel must include both an initial training requirement as well as an ongoing annual continuing education requirement as follows:

• Six initial hours of training on domestic violence, including coercive control, and its traumatic effects on children, adults, and families;
• Six initial hours of training on child abuse and child sexual abuse and its traumatic effects; and
• Four subsequent hours of training every two years on domestic violence, child abuse, and child sexual abuse and the traumatic effects on children, adults, and families.

For the 2021-22 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $86,680 to the judicial department from the general fund for general courts administration and $6,200 for capital outlay.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)