SB377 Alabama 2019 Session

Existing law provides rules pertaining to the admissibility of certain statements as evidence when they are presented during a juvenile dependency hearing. These include certain statements made by a child under the age of 12 when those statements pertain to alleged sexual abuse of the child

This bill would provide that statements made during a forensic interview by a child under the age of 12 may be entered into evidence in a juvenile dependency hearing involving that child, in certain circumstances, if the statements pertain to allegations of abuse committed against the child. This bill would also update defined terms

To amend Sections 12-15-301 and 12-15-310, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide that statements made during a forensic interview by a child under the age of 12 may be entered into evidence in a juvenile dependency hearing involving that child, in certain circumstances, if the statements pertain to allegations of abuse committed against the child; and to update defined terms.