Assembly OK's revising child death reviews in Nevada

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) -- Medical, police and child welfare officials would have to conduct more comprehensive reviews of certain child deaths under a bill passed unanimously by the Assembly on Monday.

AB381 would mandate reviews of deaths involving children under the care of the state Division of Child and Family Services, cases of alleged abuse or neglect or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or cases in which a relative requested a probe.

The measure also establishes an executive committee to set methods that multidisciplinary teams would use to investigate such deaths. Those teams would then make recommendations to the committee on what can be done to better protect children.

Also included in the bill is a $1 fee increase in death certificates, with the estimated $150,000 annually going to the executive committee.

Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, said the money would primarily be used for research and public information campaigns on issues like SIDS, child drownings, shaken baby syndrome and proper child restraints in vehicles.

Every state currently has child death review teams, but Leslie said Nevada's needs strengthening. She said she worked closely with the current review team in crafting the bill.

AB381 now moves to the Senate for its consideration.