1. (a) The purpose of a local team is to prevent deaths related to domestic violence by:

   1. (1) promoting cooperation and coordination among agencies involved in:

      1. (i) investigating deaths related to domestic violence; or
      2. (ii) providing services to victims of domestic violence, abusers, or surviving family members;
   2. (2) developing an understanding of the causes and incidence of deaths related to domestic violence in the county; and
   3. (3) developing plans for and recommending changes within the agencies the members represent.

2. (b) To achieve its purpose, a local team shall:

   1. (1) establish and implement a protocol for the local team;
   2. (2) as provided in subsection (c) of this section, review fatalities and cases of serious physical injury related to domestic violence that have occurred in the county;

   3. (3) meet on a regular basis as determined by the local team, at least annually, to:

      1. (i) review the status of domestic violence fatality cases in the county;
      2. (ii) recommend actions to improve coordination of services and investigations among member agencies; and
      3. (iii) recommend actions within the member agencies to prevent deaths related to domestic violence; and

   4. (4) provide reports that include recommendations:

      1. (i) to improve coordination of services and investigations;
      2. (ii) to implement changes recommended by the local team within member agencies; and
      3. (iii) on needed changes to State and local law, policy, and practice to prevent deaths related to domestic violence.

3. (c)

   1. (1) In accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection, a local team shall determine the number and types of cases the team will review.
   2. (2) A local team may review criminal cases only at the conclusion of the case in trial court or after the investigation of a suicide has been closed.

Added by Acts 2005, c. 233, § 1, eff. July 1, 2005.