(A) The purpose of the Domestic Violence Advisory Committee is to decrease the incidences of domestic violence by:

(1) developing an understanding of the causes and incidences of domestic violence;

(2) developing plans for and implementing changes within the agencies represented on the committee which will prevent domestic violence; and

(3) advising the Governor and the General Assembly on statutory, policy, and practice changes which will prevent domestic violence.

(B) To achieve its purpose, the committee shall:

(1) undertake annual statistical studies of the incidences and causes of domestic violence in this State, including an analysis of:

(a) community and public and private agency involvement with the victims and their families;

(b) whether the abuser has a previous criminal record involving domestic violence or assault and battery;

(c) recidivism rates;

(d) the presence of alcohol or drug use;

(e) whether the abuser has participated in a batterer treatment program or other similar treatment program and the name of the program;

(f) the success or failure rate of approved treatment programs;

(g) married versus unmarried rates of violence; and

(h) the rate of domestic violence per county;

(2) consider training, including cross-agency training, consultation, technical assistance needs, and service gaps that would decrease the likelihood of domestic violence;

(3) determine the need for changes to any statute, regulation, policy, or procedure to decrease the incidences of domestic violence and include proposals for changes to statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures in the committee's annual report;

(4) educate the public regarding the incidences and causes of domestic violence, specific steps the public can undertake to prevent domestic violence, and the support that civic, philanthropic, and public service organizations can provide in assisting the committee to educate the public;

(5) develop and implement policies and procedures for its own governance and operation;

(6) submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a publicly available annual written report and any other reports prepared by the committee including, but not limited to, the committee's findings and recommendations; and

(7) review closed domestic violence cases selected by the Attorney General or solicitor's representative on the committee to provide the commission with the best opportunity to fulfill its duties under the section.

HISTORY: 2015 Act No. 58 (S.3), Pt IV, Section 20, eff June 4, 2015.