Senate approves Rep. Davis' bill to allow testimony via closed circuit television STATEHOUSE - House Bill 1215, authored by Rep. Davis (R-Portland), was approved in the Senate on Thursday by a vote of 47-1. HB 1215 allows a protected person to testify in a court hearing via closed circuit television (CCTV). Under current statute, a protected person - a victim that is under 14 years old or has a mental handicap - may submit a statement via a video tape or written statement in a hearing if a psychiatrist deems that they will have continued mental problems or suffer serious mental distress if they testify in front of the defendant but the protected person must still 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 a court hearing via CCTV to be cross-examined in lieu of physically attending the hearing. "I wrote this bill after Delaware County prosecutors brought this loophole in statute to my attention," said Rep. Davis. "We need to protect children and the disabled from experiencing any further trauma by being required to physically testify in front of their alleged attacker. With this bill, they will be able to testify and be cross-examined in a much more comfortable environment." Since HB 1215 was approved in the Senate without any amendments, the bill now moves to the Governor's desk for approval. -30- |
