Bill > HB503

This bill amends Pennsylvania's judicial procedures to provide additional protections for victims and witnesses with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder. The key provisions include: 1. Defining "intellectual disability" and "autism spectrum disorder" to establish the individuals covered by the new procedures. 2. Allowing out-of-court statements made by victims or witnesses with intellectual disabilities or autism to be admissible as evidence in criminal and civil proceedings if certain reliability and unavailability conditions are met. 3. Outlining the process for the court to determine whether a victim or witness with intellectual disabilities or autism is unavailable to testify due to serious emotional distress that would substantially impact their ability to communicate. 4. Specifying the rights of the defendant, attorneys, and the court when the court is making the determination of unavailability. 5. Requiring the proponent of the out-of-court statement to provide advance notice to the adverse party.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2019&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=503