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Prepared by Alden A. Clement, Jr.
Hazel HB No. 1073
(KEYWORD, SUMMARY, AND DIGEST as amended by Senate committee
amendments)
CRIMINAL/PROCE DURE. Provides relative to the recording of statements of
protected persons outside of the courtroom
DIGEST
Present law authorizes the court, on its own motion or on motion of the district attorney, a
parish welfare unit or agency, or the Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS), to
require that a statement of a protected person be recorded on videotape.
Present law defines "protected person" as any person who is a victim of a crime or a witness
in a criminal proceeding and who is either under the age of 17 years or has a developmental
disability as defined in present law.
Proposed law retains present law and further authorizes the recording of statements of
protected persons outside of the courtroom without the necessity of the issuance of an order
by the court in any individual case either by local court rule or by the execution of a written
protocol between the court and law enforcement agencies, a parish welfare unit or agency,
DCFS, or a child advocacy center operating in the judicial district.
(Amends R.S. 15:440.2(A)(1) and Ch.C. Art. 324(A))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill.
1. Amended provision in the Children's Code which provides relative to the
recorded statements of protected persons to reflect changes in proposed law.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary C to the
reengrossed bill
1. Deletes references to a Child Advocacy Program from proposed law.