Bills › 89th General Assembly
HSB 19
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 12, 2021
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 12, 2021
- Done: House committeeFebruary 2, 2021
- Skipped: Passes the HouseContinued as HF 361
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became HF 361 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to HF 361 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Currently, courts can choose to appoint a legal representative for children aged 14 to 17 in certain serious abuse cases if the representative agrees to work for free. This change removes that option and ensures all child witnesses in these specific cases are entitled to have a representative looking out for their interests. This rule applies to cases involving things like sexual abuse, child endangerment, and human trafficking.1
Read the official explanation
_____ 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. 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 January 12, 2021. On January 13, 2021 it recommended amendment and passage.
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
Tried before
Study bill
89th General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- SF 2277 Relating to the appointment of a guardian ad litem for certain child prosecution witnesses88th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 2362 · nearly identicalCleared committee
Matched by wording or an identical title.