Bill > SB0304

This bill amends Tennessee law regarding the admissibility of video recordings of child forensic interviews in legal proceedings. Specifically, the bill allows video recordings of child victims describing sexual or physically violent contact to be introduced as evidence if two key conditions are met: first, either the child or the forensic interviewer must testify under oath that the video recording is accurate, and second, the child must be available for cross-examination. The bill expands the definition of acceptable forensic interviewers to include those employed by federal agencies who conducted interviews during federal crime investigations. Additionally, the bill provides more flexibility for child advocacy centers by removing certain restrictive accreditation and administrative requirements, such as allowing centers that are not nonprofit organizations if they are accredited by a recognized national agency, or centers with executive directors supervised by publicly elected officials. The bill aims to make it easier to use video recordings of child forensic interviews as evidence while maintaining safeguards to ensure the reliability and fairness of such evidence.

Justice

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0304&ga=114