---
title: O.C.G.A. § 17-15-16. Funding for costs of forensic interviews for persons less than 18 years of age or developmentally disabled.
collection: code
id: 17-15-16
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 17-15-16 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-15-16
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-15-16.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-15-16/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t17-(v15)-2020-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=8c04ccfe_0#page=1433
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-15.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-15-15.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE / VICTIM COMPENSATION
extraction_warnings:
  - dehyphenation_unverified:reimburs-able
---

# O.C.G.A. § 17-15-16. Funding for costs of forensic interviews for persons less than 18 years of age or developmentally disabled.

(a) When a forensic interview is conducted and when funding is available, the cost of such interview for a person who is less than 18 years of age or developmentally disabled may be paid for by the fund in an amount to be determined by the board.

(b) The board shall develop standards, protocols, and guidelines related to reimbursement of forensic interview providers.

(c) The board shall establish an annual limit of:

(1) The amount that may be paid from the fund;

(2) The amount that may be reimbursed for each interview; and

(3) The limit on the number of interviews that will be reimbursable from the fund.

(d) Funding may be used only when:

(1) The results of the forensic interview will be for identification of the interviewee’s needs, including social services, personal advocacy, case management, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services;

(2) The forensic interviews are conducted in the context of a multidisciplinary investigation and diagnostic team, or in a specialized setting such as a child advocacy center; and

(3) The interviewer is trained to conduct forensic interviews appropriate to the developmental age and abilities of children, or the developmental, cognitive, and physical or communication disabilities presented by adults.

## History

Code 1981, § 17-15-16, enacted by Ga. L. 2014, p. 354, § 1/SB 187.

## Code Commission Notes

Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2016, a semicolon was substituted for a colon at the end of subparagraph (c)(1).