Bill > HB2662

This bill establishes new rules for expert testimony in Arizona parenting time cases where domestic violence or abuse is alleged, aiming to ensure that expert opinions are based on credible experience and accepted scientific principles. Specifically, it mandates that any expert witness providing testimony on alleged domestic violence or abuse must have demonstrated expertise and clinical experience working directly with victims of such issues, and this experience cannot solely come from court appointments in parenting time cases or related legal proceedings; furthermore, the expert's demonstrated expertise cannot be purely "forensic," meaning it cannot be limited to activities done specifically for court cases or litigation. The bill also clarifies that any psychological testing, principles, diagnoses, or concepts used by these experts must be empirically established and generally accepted as valid and reliable for the specific issues being evaluated, and it explicitly prohibits evidence from polygraph examinations, voice-stress analysis, or similar psychological measures. An exception is made for law enforcement officers with relevant experience and training in recognizing domestic violence or abuse, and the bill defines "abuse" and "domestic violence" by referencing existing Arizona statutes, while also defining "forensic" to clarify what kind of experience is excluded.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/84468