The Judiciary Committee met Monday taking up several bills including, Senate Bill 563, which prohibits sexual assault victims from being subjected to certain physical examinations.
This bill adds new sections to code that prohibits a court to require an alleged victim in a prosecution for a sexual offense to endure a gynecological or physical examination of certain body parts. It also provides that a victim’s refusal to undergo a physical examination does not serve as a basis to exclude evidence from prior, relevant physical examinations, unless constitutionally required. Finally, it provides that for purposes of this new subsection, the term “sexual offense” means any offense in which sexual contact or intrusion is an element of the offense.
The committee discussed the bill and asked questions of counsel but decided it would be safer to study the bill more in a study resolution.
The committee also took up Senate Bill 453, which relates to background checks of certain financial institutions. This bill provides an alternate form of background checks for certain situations or instances. It provides that the Commissioner of the Division of Financial Institutions may determine alternate acceptable forms for background check information for direct and indirect principals of a licensee or applicant for a mortgage lender or broker license or a money transmission license who are not residents of the United States.
The committee advanced this bill and reported it to the House.
The committee also advanced Senate Bill 440, which relates to the Antihazing Law. Currently, the anti-hazing law only applies to organizations operation under the sanction of, or recognized as an organization by, an institution of higher education. Unsanctioned organizations are not covered by the anti-hazing law.
The bill will be reported to the House.
The committee advanced Senate Bill 510, which relates to medical professional liability. The purpose of this bill is to amend the prerequisites for filing a medical professional liability claim to clarify and provide additional expert witness qualifications.
The bill will be reported to the House.
The committee also advanced Senate Bill 295, which relates to crimes against public justice. The purpose of this bill is to include court security officers, the state fire marshal assistant, and deputy fire marshals in the definition of persons against whom obstructing an officer is a crime. The bill will be reported to the House.
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