SB 1062 – Allows videotaped depositions of mentally retarded persons to be admissible in certain criminal proceedings

• Sponsor: Scott
• LR Number: 4746S.01I
• Committee: Judiciary and Civil & Criminal Jurisprudence
• Last Action: 3/27/2006 - Hearing Cancelled S Judiciary and Civil & Criminal Jurisprudence Committee
• Effective Date: August 28, 2006

Current Bill Summary

SB 1062 - This act provides that in any criminal proceeding involving an offense against the person, a sexual offense, or an offense against the family, upon the motion of the prosecuting attorney, the court may order that an in-camera videotaped deposition of the testimony of a mentally retarded person be admissible for use as substantive evidence at preliminary hearings and at trial.

The court may order that such videotaped testimony be admissible in lieu of the person's personal appearance and testimony at hearing or trial, if a mental health or social work professional certifies that the person is mentally retarded, if the person is an alleged victim or an essential witness to the proceeding, and if the court finds, at a hearing, that a likelihood exists that the mentally retarded person would suffer significant emotional or psychological trauma as the result of testifying in the presence of the defendant. The court may also make such an order if it finds that the person could not reasonably communicate to the trier of fact in the presence of the defendant due to emotional trauma.

The prosecuting attorney must inform the defendant and the defendant's attorney at least ten days prior to the taking of a videotaped deposition of the prosecuting attorney's intention to have the person provide testimony by videotape. The court shall preside over the deposition proceedings.

The court may also exclude the defendant from the videotaped deposition proceedings, upon a finding that the person may suffer trauma, as provided for in this act. If the court excludes the defendant from the deposition proceedings, and the excluded defendant does not have counsel and it appears that defendant will be unable to obtain counsel within a reasonable period of time, the court shall appoint the public defender or other counsel to represent the defendant in the deposition proceedings.

The attorney for the defendant shall have at least two opportunities to cross-examine a mentally retarded person who is to provide testimony by videotape, once prior to a preliminary hearing, and once prior to the trial.

ALEXA PEARSON