Bills › 88th General Assembly
Relating to the appointment of a guardian ad litem for certain child prosecution witnesses
Sponsored by the Senate Judiciary Committee
Topics:Courts & civil law
Same legislation: SF 2277
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 17, 2020
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 17, 2020
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 20, 2020
- Done: Passes the SenateFebruary 27, 202049–0
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- 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
Under current law, in a case involving sexual abuse, human trafficking, incest, neglect or abandonment of a dependent person, child endangerment, or sexual exploitation of a minor, a prosecuting witness who is a child (under the age of years) is entitled to have the witness’s interests represented by a guardian ad litem at all stages of the proceedings in such cases. If a prosecuting witness is 14, 15, 16, or years of age and would be entitled to the appointment of a guardian ad litem if the prosecuting witness was under the age of 14, a court may appoint a guardian ad litem for such a prosecuting witness if the requirements for the appointment of the guardian ad litem are met and the guardian ad litem agrees to participate without compensation.
Read the full explanation
The bill strikes the latter provision and provides that a prosecuting witness who is a child under the age of years in a case involving sexual abuse, human trafficking, incest, neglect or abandonment of a dependent person, child endangerment, or sexual exploitation of a minor is entitled to have the witness’s interests represented by a guardian ad litem at all stages of the proceedings in such cases.
House subcommittee
Named March 3, 2020. Meeting: Wednesday, March 11 · 8:30 AM · House Lounge.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Family tree
88th General Assembly
Picked up later
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Similar bills
- HSB 19 HSB 1989th General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 361Nearly identical
Matched by wording or an identical title.