Relating to expert witness testimony in child sexual abuse and child endangerment cases

Where it is now

1. ✓
   Done: IntroducedFebruary 20, 2019
2. ✓
   Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 24, 2020
3. ✓
   Done: House committeeApril 4, 2019
4. ✕
   Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
5. –
   Skipped: Senate committeeSkipped
6. ✓
   Done: Passes the SenateApril 9, 201948–0
7. Next: To the Governor
8. Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2020 session adjourned on June 14, 2020, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

This bill relates to expert testimony in child sexual abuse, child abuse, and child endangerment cases.6 (child endangerment), against a victim under years of age at the time of the offense and “sexual abuse” as a criminal charge alleging that the defendant has committed an offense under Code chapter 709 (sexual abuse) against a victim under years of age at the time of the offense.39, which provides that in a criminal prosecution in which a defendant has been charged with child sexual abuse or child endangerment, evidence from a qualified expert witness is admissible on matters relevant to the case, including but not limited to testimony from the expert witness based upon the expert’s education, training, and experience concerning any of the following: (1) reasons child victims delay disclosure of circumstances surrounding sexual abuse or child endangerment, or intermittently disclose details of such circumstances surrounding sexual abuse or child endangerment; (2) the process engaged in by perpetrators of sexual abuse to groom their victims, or grooming behaviors in general, which include but are not limited to preparing a child for victimization and ensuring the child does not report the sexual abuse; (3) the various reasons that child victims recant allegations of sexual abuse or child endangerment; and (4) possible symptoms or post-allegation behaviors of a child who is the victim of sexual abuse or child endangerment.

Full bill text¹

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