Rep. Davis pens bills to protect environment, victims in court STATEHOUSE - State Representative Bill Davis (R-Portland) authored two bills that passed in House committees last week. One bill would require a permit to build a manure storage structure, and the other would allow the use of closed circuit television to be used in court cases. House Bill 1187 would prohibit the building of an earthen or concrete manure storage structure that would hold over 1 million gallons of manure without first obtaining a permit from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. HB1215 would allow a protected person - a victim that is under 14 years of age or has a mental handicap - to testify in a court hearing via closed circuit television (CCTV). Under current statute, if a psychiatrist deems that a protected person will have continued mental problems or suffer serious mental distress if they testify in front of the defendant, the protected person may submit a statement via a video tape or written statement but must physically appear in court to be cross-examined by the defense counsel. HB1215 would amend current statutes so that the protected person could appear in court via CCTV to be cross-examined. "There was a hole in the current statutes," said Delaware County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Judi Calhoun. "This bill is truly needed to protect these children and allow them to have their voice." "These two bills are important in two very different ways," said Rep. Davis. "House Bill 1187 allows more oversight of off-site or satellite lagoons to help protect our environment. And House Bill 1215 would protect children and the disabled from the traumatic experience of having to physically testify in front of their alleged attacker." -30- |
