NM
New Mexico House Bill HB173

New Mexico 2023 Regular Session

New Mexico House Bill HB173 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
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2828 HOUSE BILL 173
2929 56
3030 TH LEGISLATURE
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3333 STATE
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3939 MEXICO
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4242 FIRST SESSION
4343 ,
4444
4545 2023
4646 INTRODUCED BY
4747 Tara Jaramillo and Meredith A. Dixon and Jason C. Harper
4848 and Andrea Reeb
4949 AN ACT
5050 RELATING TO TRIAL PROCEDURE; CHANGING THE NAME OF THE UNIFORM
5151 CHILD WITNESS PROTECTIVE MEASURES ACT TO THE CHILD AND
5252 ADJUDICATED INCAPACITATED ADULT WITNESS PROTECTIVE MEASURES
5353 ACT; ALLOWING A VICTIM THE RIGHT TO DENY A PRETRIAL STATEMENT
5454 OR PRETRIAL INTERVIEW PURSUANT TO THE CHILD AND ADJUDICATED
5555 INCAPACITATED ADULT WITNESS PROTECTIVE MEASURES ACT; PROVIDING
5656 FOR THE ADMISSIBILITY OF A CHILD'S OR ADJUDICATED INCAPACITATED
5757 ADULT'S FORENSIC INTERVIEW IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AMENDING
5858 THE UNIFORM CHILD WITNESS PROTECTIVE MEASURES ACT TO INCLUDE
5959 ADJUDICATED INCAPACITATED ADULTS; AMENDING, REPEALING AND
6060 ENACTING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978.
6161 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
6262 SECTION 1. Section 38-6A-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2011,
6363 Chapter 98, Section 1) is amended to read:
6464 .223102.5 underscored material = new
6565 [bracketed material] = delete
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9191 "38-6A-1. SHORT TITLE.--[This act ] Chapter 38, Article 6A
9292 NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "[Uniform ] Child and Adjudicated
9393 Incapacitated Adult Witness Protective Measures Act"."
9494 SECTION 2. Section 38-6A-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2011,
9595 Chapter 98, Section 2) is amended to read:
9696 "38-6A-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the [Uniform ] Child
9797 and Adjudicated Incapacitated Adult Witness Protective Measures
9898 Act:
9999 A. "adjudicated incapacitated adult witness" means
100100 a person sixteen years of age or older who has been determined
101101 by a court to have demonstrated partial or complete impairment
102102 by reason of mental illness, mental deficiency, physical
103103 illness or disability or chronic use of drugs or alcohol to the
104104 extent that the person is unable to manage personal or
105105 financial affairs or unable to manage the person's estate and
106106 who has been or will be called to testify in a noncriminal or
107107 criminal proceeding;
108108 [A.] B. "alternative method" means:
109109 (1) in a criminal proceeding in which a child
110110 witness or an adjudicated incapacitated adult witness does not
111111 give testimony in an open forum in full view of the finder of
112112 fact, a videotaped deposition of the child witness or
113113 adjudicated incapacitated adult witness that complies with the
114114 following requirements:
115115 (a) the deposition was presided over by
116116 .223102.5
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144144 a district judge;
145145 (b) the defendant was represented by
146146 counsel at the deposition or waived counsel;
147147 (c) the defendant was present at the
148148 deposition; and
149149 (d) the defendant was given an adequate
150150 opportunity to cross-examine the child witness or adjudicated
151151 incapacitated adult witness, subject to such protection of the
152152 child witness or adjudicated incapacitated adult witness as the
153153 judge deemed necessary;
154154 (2) in a criminal proceeding in which a child
155155 witness or an adjudicated incapacitated adult witness does not
156156 give testimony face-to-face with the defendant, a videotaped
157157 deposition of the child witness or adjudicated incapacitated
158158 adult witness that complies with the following requirements:
159159 (a) the deposition was presided over by
160160 a district judge;
161161 (b) the defendant was represented by
162162 counsel at the deposition or waived counsel;
163163 (c) the defendant was able to view the
164164 deposition, including the child witness or adjudicated
165165 incapacitated adult witness, through closed-circuit television
166166 or equivalent technology, and the defendant and counsel were
167167 able to communicate with each other during the deposition
168168 through headsets and microphones or equivalent technology; and
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197197 (d) the defendant was given an adequate
198198 opportunity to cross-examine the child witness or adjudicated
199199 incapacitated adult witness, subject to such protection of the
200200 child witness or adjudicated incapacitated adult witness as the
201201 judge deemed necessary; or
202202 (3) in a noncriminal proceeding, testimony by
203203 closed-circuit television, deposition, testimony in a closed
204204 forum or any other method of testimony that does not include
205205 one or more of the following:
206206 (a) having the child witness or
207207 adjudicated incapacitated adult witness testify in person in an
208208 open forum;
209209 (b) having the child witness or
210210 adjudicated incapacitated adult witness testify in the presence
211211 and full view of the finder of fact and presiding officer; and
212212 (c) allowing all of the parties to be
213213 present, to participate and to view and be viewed by the child
214214 witness or adjudicated incapacitated adult witness ;
215215 [B.] C. "child witness" means:
216216 (1) an individual under the age of sixteen who
217217 has been or will be called to testify in a noncriminal
218218 proceeding; or
219219 (2) an alleged victim under the age of sixteen
220220 who has been or will be called to testify in a criminal
221221 proceeding;
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250250 [C.] D. "criminal proceeding" means a trial or
251251 hearing before a court in a prosecution of a person charged
252252 with violating a criminal law of New Mexico or a delinquency
253253 proceeding pursuant to the Delinquency Act involving conduct
254254 that if engaged in by an adult would constitute a violation of
255255 a criminal law of New Mexico;
256256 [D.] E. "forensic interview" means a
257257 developmentally sensitive and legally sound method of gathering
258258 factual information regarding allegations of abuse or exposure
259259 to violence that is conducted by a competently trained, neutral
260260 professional utilizing research and practice-informed
261261 techniques as part of a larger investigative process and that
262262 is recorded;
263263 F. "noncriminal proceeding" means a trial or
264264 hearing before a court or an administrative agency of New
265265 Mexico having judicial or quasi-judicial powers in a civil
266266 case, an administrative proceeding or any other case or
267267 proceeding other than a criminal proceeding; and
268268 [E.] G. "presiding officer" means the person under
269269 whose supervision and jurisdiction the proceeding is being
270270 conducted. "Presiding officer" includes a judge in whose court
271271 a case is being heard, a quasi-judicial officer or an
272272 administrative law judge or hearing officer."
273273 SECTION 3. A new section of the Child and Adjudicated
274274 Incapacitated Adult Witness Protective Measures Act is enacted
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303303 to read:
304304 "[NEW MATERIAL] RIGHT TO REFUSE INTERVIEW.--A victim who
305305 is a child witness or an adjudicated incapacitated adult
306306 witness who has previously given a recorded statement as part
307307 of a forensic interview or in-court testimony regarding a
308308 criminal or noncriminal offense shall not be compelled to give
309309 a pretrial statement or pretrial interview."
310310 SECTION 4. A new section of the Child and Adjudicated
311311 Incapacitated Adult Witness Protective Measures Act is enacted
312312 to read:
313313 "[NEW MATERIAL] ADMISSIBILITY OF A CHILD WITNESS'S OR
314314 ADJUDICATED INCAPACITATED ADULT WITNESS'S PREVIOUS
315315 STATEMENTS.--
316316 A. When a child witness or an adjudicated
317317 incapacitated adult witness testifies at a court proceeding as
318318 a victim in a criminal or noncriminal proceeding and is subject
319319 to cross-examination, a forensic interview by the child witness
320320 or adjudicated incapacitated adult witness may be admitted as
321321 evidence if the court finds that the forensic interview bears
322322 adequate circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness. In
323323 determining the trustworthiness of the forensic interview, the
324324 court shall consider the timing of the forensic interview, the
325325 content of the forensic interview and the context in which the
326326 forensic interview was conducted.
327327 B. A previous statement of material fact by a child
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356356 witness or an adjudicated incapacitated adult witness may be
357357 admitted as evidence at trial or a preliminary hearing if the
358358 court finds that the statement is nontestimonial and the
359359 statement bears adequate circumstantial guarantees of
360360 trustworthiness.
361361 C. Absent a showing of good cause, a proponent
362362 seeking admission of a previous statement or forensic interview
363363 of a child witness or an adjudicated incapacitated adult
364364 witness shall provide notice of intent to introduce such
365365 statement or forensic interview at least five days before a
366366 preliminary hearing or at least twenty days before trial.
367367 D. This section shall not be construed to limit the
368368 admissibility of evidence that is otherwise admissible."
369369 SECTION 5. Section 38-6A-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2011,
370370 Chapter 98, Section 3) is amended to read:
371371 "38-6A-3. APPLICABILITY.--
372372 A. The [Uniform] Child and Adjudicated
373373 Incapacitated Adult Witness Protective Measures Act applies to
374374 the testimony, pretrial statement or pretrial interview of a
375375 child witness or an adjudicated incapacitated adult witness in
376376 a criminal or noncriminal proceeding. However, the [Uniform ]
377377 Child and Adjudicated Incapacitated Adult Witness Protective
378378 Measures Act does not preclude, in a criminal or noncriminal
379379 proceeding, any other procedure permitted by law:
380380 (1) for a child witness or an adjudicated
381381 .223102.5
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409409 incapacitated adult witness to testify by an alternative
410410 method, however denominated; or
411411 (2) for protecting the interests of or
412412 reducing mental or emotional harm to a child witness or an
413413 adjudicated incapacitated adult witness.
414414 B. The supreme court may adopt rules of procedure
415415 and evidence to implement the provisions of the [Uniform ] Child
416416 and Adjudicated Incapacitated Adult Witness Protective Measures
417417 Act."
418418 SECTION 6. Section 38-6A-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2011,
419419 Chapter 98, Section 4) is amended to read:
420420 "38-6A-4. HEARING WHETHER TO ALLOW TESTIMONY BY
421421 ALTERNATIVE METHOD.--
422422 A. The presiding officer in a criminal or
423423 noncriminal proceeding may order a hearing to determine whether
424424 to allow a child witness or an adjudicated incapacitated adult
425425 witness to testify by an alternative method. The presiding
426426 officer, for good cause shown, shall order the hearing upon
427427 motion of a party, a child witness or an adjudicated
428428 incapacitated adult witness or an individual determined by the
429429 presiding officer to have sufficient standing to act on behalf
430430 of the child witness or adjudicated incapacitated adult
431431 witness.
432432 B. A hearing to determine whether to allow a child
433433 witness or an adjudicated incapacitated adult witness to
434434 .223102.5
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462462 testify by an alternative method shall be conducted [on the
463463 record] after reasonable notice to all parties, to any nonparty
464464 movant and to any other person the presiding officer specifies.
465465 The [child's] child witness's or adjudicated incapacitated
466466 adult witness's presence is not required at the hearing unless
467467 ordered by the presiding officer."
468468 SECTION 7. Section 38-6A-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2011,
469469 Chapter 98, Section 5) is amended to read:
470470 "38-6A-5. STANDARDS FOR DETERMINING WHETHER A CHILD
471471 WITNESS OR ADJUDICATED INCAPACITATED ADULT WITNESS MAY TESTIFY
472472 BY ALTERNATIVE METHOD.--
473473 A. In a criminal proceeding, the presiding officer
474474 may allow a child witness or an adjudicated incapacitated adult
475475 witness to testify by an alternative method in the following
476476 situations:
477477 (1) the child witness or adjudicated
478478 incapacitated adult witness may testify otherwise than in an
479479 open forum in the presence and full view of the finder of fact
480480 upon a showing that the child witness or adjudicated
481481 incapacitated adult witness may be unable to testify without
482482 suffering unreasonable and unnecessary mental or emotional
483483 harm; and
484484 (2) the child witness or adjudicated
485485 incapacitated adult witness may testify other than face-to-face
486486 with the defendant if the presiding officer makes specific
487487 .223102.5
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515515 findings that the child witness or adjudicated incapacitated
516516 adult witness would be unable to testify face-to-face with the
517517 defendant without suffering unreasonable and unnecessary mental
518518 or emotional harm.
519519 B. In a noncriminal proceeding, the presiding
520520 officer may allow a child witness or an adjudicated
521521 incapacitated adult witness to testify by an alternative method
522522 if the presiding officer finds that allowing the child witness
523523 or adjudicated incapacitated adult witness to testify by an
524524 alternative method is necessary to serve the best interests of
525525 the child witness or adjudicated incapacitated adult witness or
526526 enable the child witness or adjudicated incapacitated adult
527527 witness to communicate with the finder of fact. In making this
528528 finding, the presiding officer shall consider:
529529 (1) the nature of the proceeding;
530530 (2) the age and maturity of the child witness
531531 or adjudicated incapacitated adult witness ;
532532 (3) the relationship of the child witness or
533533 adjudicated incapacitated adult witness to the parties in the
534534 proceeding;
535535 (4) the nature and degree of mental or
536536 emotional harm that the child witness or adjudicated
537537 incapacitated adult witness may suffer in testifying; and
538538 (5) any other relevant factor."
539539 SECTION 8. Section 38-6A-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2011,
540540 .223102.5
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568568 Chapter 98, Section 6) is amended to read:
569569 "38-6A-6. FACTORS FOR DETERMINING WHETHER TO PERMIT
570570 ALTERNATIVE METHOD.--If the presiding officer determines that a
571571 standard pursuant to Section [5 of the Uniform Child Witness
572572 Protective Measures Act ] 38-6A-5 NMSA 1978 has been met, the
573573 presiding officer [shall determine whether to ] may allow a
574574 child witness or an adjudicated incapacitated adult witness to
575575 testify by an alternative method [and in doing so shall
576576 consider:
577577 A. alternative methods reasonably available for
578578 protecting the interests of or reducing mental or emotional
579579 harm to the child;
580580 B. available means for protecting the interests of
581581 or reducing mental or emotional harm to the child without
582582 resort to an alternative method;
583583 C. the nature of the case;
584584 D. the relative rights of the parties;
585585 E. the importance of the proposed testimony of the
586586 child;
587587 F. the nature and degree of mental or emotional
588588 harm that the child may suffer if an alternative method is not
589589 used; and
590590 G. any other relevant factor ]."
591591 SECTION 9. Section 38-6A-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2011,
592592 Chapter 98, Section 7) is amended to read:
593593 .223102.5
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621621 "38-6A-7. ORDER REGARDING TESTIMONY BY ALTERNATIVE
622622 METHOD.--
623623 A. An order allowing or disallowing a child witness
624624 or an adjudicated incapacitated adult witness to testify by an
625625 alternative method shall state the findings of fact and
626626 conclusions of law that support the presiding officer's
627627 determination.
628628 B. An order allowing a child witness or an
629629 adjudicated incapacitated adult witness to testify by an
630630 alternative method shall:
631631 (1) state the method by which the child
632632 witness or adjudicated incapacitated adult witness is to
633633 testify;
634634 (2) list any individual or category of
635635 individuals allowed to be in, or required to be excluded from,
636636 the presence of the child witness or adjudicated incapacitated
637637 adult witness during the testimony;
638638 (3) state any special conditions necessary to
639639 facilitate a party's right to examine or cross-examine the
640640 child witness or adjudicated incapacitated adult witness ;
641641 (4) state any condition or limitation upon the
642642 participation of individuals present during the testimony of
643643 the child witness or adjudicated incapacitated adult witness ;
644644 and
645645 (5) state any other condition necessary for
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674674 taking or presenting the testimony.
675675 C. The alternative method ordered by the presiding
676676 officer shall be no more restrictive of the rights of the
677677 parties than is necessary under the circumstances to serve the
678678 purposes of the order and shall be subject to the other
679679 provisions of the [Uniform ] Child and Adjudicated Incapacitated
680680 Adult Witness Protective Measures Act."
681681 SECTION 10. Section 38-6A-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2011,
682682 Chapter 98, Section 8) is amended to read:
683683 "38-6A-8. RIGHT OF PARTY TO EXAMINE CHILD WITNESS OR
684684 ADJUDICATED INCAPACITATED ADULT WITNESS.--An alternative method
685685 ordered by the presiding officer shall permit a full and fair
686686 opportunity for examination or cross-examination of the child
687687 witness or adjudicated incapacitated adult witness by each
688688 party, subject to such protection of the child witness or
689689 adjudicated incapacitated adult witness as the presiding
690690 officer deems necessary."
691691 SECTION 11. REPEAL.--Section 38-6A-9 NMSA 1978 (being
692692 Laws 2011, Chapter 98, Section 9) is repealed.
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