Bill > HB2099

This bill amends Tennessee law to make it easier for child victims to testify in criminal cases by creating a "rebuttable presumption" that a child under 13 years old would be traumatized by the defendant's presence in court, making it difficult for them to communicate. This means that unless the defense can prove otherwise, it will be assumed that a child under 13 needs to testify via two-way closed-circuit television (CCTV) rather than in person. The bill clarifies that the child does not need to be present in the courtroom for the judge to make this decision, and the judge must still ensure that using CCTV does not unfairly disadvantage the defendant. This change aims to reduce the emotional distress experienced by young victims during legal proceedings, particularly in cases involving certain offenses.