HCS HB 177 -- COURT RECORDS FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES

SPONSOR:  Stevenson (Cox)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Judiciary by a vote of 14 to 0.

This substitute gives the judge in a domestic assault case the
discretion to publicly disclose identifying information regarding
the defendant which could be used to identify or locate the
victim.  The victim may provide a statement regarding whether or
not he or she wants the information to remain closed.  The judge
must consider the statement of the victim and the welfare and
safety of the victim in determining whether to disclose the
information.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2010, FY 2011, and
FY 2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will close a loophole
in the law that allows offenders to have identifying information
closed because the information could be used to identify the
victim.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Cox; and Missouri
Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:24 am