The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard Rep. Olthoff’s HB 1516 on a domestic violence fatality review committee. The bill establishes the statewide domestic violence fatality review committee to: (1) assist local review teams; (2) assist in or conduct a review of a death or near fatality in possible domestic violence cases; (3) gather information; (4) submit reports; and (5) make recommendations concerning the prevention of domestic violence deaths. The bill also authorizes local review teams to review near fatalities, provides for immunity when releasing records in accordance with the bill, and provides for the confidentiality of information held by the state or local review teams.
An amendment was offered to replace incorrect references to the state agency with oversight over the statewide committee. Testimony was heard from the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence and a member of the Madison County Fatality Review Team. The amended bill passed 9-0.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2017/bills/house/1516.