KRS 403.705: Domestic violence coordinating councils -- Membership -- Purpose --

Local protocol required -- Domestic violence fatality review teams --

Duties.

(1) One (1) or more local domestic violence coordinating councils may be

established in any jurisdiction or group of counties.

(2) Membership on local domestic violence coordinating councils may include, but

not be limited to, judges, Commonwealth's and county attorneys, law

enforcement officers, probation or parole officers, spouse abuse center staff,

other victim advocates defined under KRS 421.570, family service workers

employed by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, mental health

professionals, health care professionals, educators, public advocates, and

other persons as deemed appropriate.

(3) The purpose of local domestic violence coordinating councils shall include, but

not be limited to, the promotion of public awareness about domestic violence,

the facilitation of interagency coordination, and the assessment of service

delivery related to domestic violence.

(4) Local domestic violence coordinating councils shall develop a local protocol

consistent with nationally recognized practice.

(5) Local domestic violence coordinating councils may, if authorized by the local

coroner or a medical examiner, create a domestic violence fatality review team,

the purpose of which shall be to prevent future deaths and injuries related to

domestic violence.

(6) Domestic violence fatality review teams of local domestic violence coordinating

councils may:

(a) Analyze information regarding local domestic violence fatalities to identify

trends, patterns, and risk factors;

(b) Evaluate the effectiveness of local prevention and intervention strategies;

and

(c) Recommend, to the appropriate state or local governmental agency,

changes in the Kentucky Revised Statutes, administrative regulations,

policies, budgets, and treatment and service standards that may facilitate

the prevention of domestic violence fatalities. The fatality review team

may establish a protocol for the investigation of domestic violence

fatalities and may establish operating rules and procedures as it deems

necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

(7) The review of a case by a domestic violence fatality review team may include

information from reports generated or received by agencies, organizations, or

individuals responsible for investigation, prosecution, or treatment in the case.

(8) The proceedings, records, opinions, and deliberations of the domestic violence

fatality review 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 domestic violence fatality review team.