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House passes bill to standardize law-enforcement notification to child advocacy centers, expand remote testimony access
Summary
HB 11-03 requires law enforcement to notify child advocacy centers and extends eligibility for remote testimony for witnesses up to age 18 on the basis of severe emotional distress; sponsors said the changes reduce trauma for child victims and improve prosecutorial outcomes.
The House approved House Bill 11-03, which formalizes notification obligations to child advocacy centers (CACs) and expands the grounds under which a juvenile or vulnerable witness may testify remotely.
Representative Goldstein said the amendments clarify jurisdictional notification when an alleged offense occurs outside a CAC’s normal area and require law enforcement to notify the appropriate CAC. Representative Garcia, co-sponsor, said the bill strengthens coordination between law enforcement and CACs and raises the age cap to 18 for access to remote testimony on findings of severe emotional distress or trauma.
The bill also removes language that advocates argued created a problematic rebuttable presumption about remote testimony; the sponsors said the change narrows factors considered to a witness’s trauma and the court’s individualized findings. Supporters cited research and statistics on mental-health impacts and said CAC involvement can reduce retraumatization and improve the likelihood that cases proceed.
Floor amendments (including L15 and L6) were adopted to refine reporting language and coordination duties, and the bill passed on voice vote.
What’s next: Committee of the Whole reported HB 11-03 as amended for second reading placement on the calendar for third reading final passage.
