A005-9900

10	AN ACT CONCERNING



20	Admissibility of Closed Court Testimony in Sexual Offense Cases - Cause of 

30	Action



40	FOR a victim of a crime of sexual offense, as this term may be defined by law, shall 

50	have the right to testify to the specific sexual offenses in a closed court; and be 

60 	guaranteed by that court the admissibility of their testimony in the prosecution of 

70 	their offenders.



80	BY adding to 

80		Article - Sexual Offense

90		Section 461 to be under the new subtitle "Subtitle D. Admissibility of a 

100			Closed Court Testimony"

110		Annotated Code of Maryland



120					Preamble



130	WHEREAS,  The protection of the admissibility of closed court testimonies by 

140		sexual offense victims constitutes a significant aspect of the prosecutions 

150		case against the sexual offenders, and that the protection of the testimony 

160	 	is crucial in guaranteeing a fair trial, and providing a cause of action for 

170		sexual offense victims to effectively contribute to the just prosecution of

180		their offenders; now therefore



190	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE MARYLAND STUDENT 

200	LEGISLATURE:



210				Article - Sexual Offense



220	 ¤ 461



230	(D)

240		THE PROTECTION OF A CLOSED COURT TESTIMONY GIVEN BY

250		A SEXUAL OFFENSE VICTIM, AS DEFINED BY LAW, WILL BE 

260		ENFORCED BY THE GUARANTEED ADMISSIBILITY OF THE 

270		SAID TESTIMONY.



280	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall be 	

290	construed only prospectively and may not be applied or interpreted to have any 

300 	effect on or application to any causes of action on the admissibility of closed court

310	testimonies which arise before the effective date of this act.



320	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, that this Act shall take effect 

330 	on January 1, 2000.



340	MANDATES:		Vice President, Al Gore

350				Governor of Maryland, Parris Glendening 

360				Lt. Governor of Maryland, Kathleen Kennedy-Townsend

370				Senate Judiciary Chair, Orrin Hatch





							

						Co- Sponsors:	  Erin E. Collins

							          Western Maryland College

								  2 College Hill

								  Westminster, MD 21157

								  (410) 751-8527

								  lizzy_wmc@hotmail.com



							          Stephanie Knight

								  Western Maryland College

								  2 College Hill

								  Westminster, MD 21157

								  (410) 751-8171

								  belle0803@aol.com