Hazel (HB 1073) Act No. 647
Existing 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, to require that
a statement of a protected person be recorded on videotape.
Existing 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.
New law retains existing law and 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.
Effective Aug. 1, 2014.
(Amends R.S. 15:440.2(A)(1) and Ch.C. Art. 324(A))