HCS HB 1317 -- CRIME VICTIM'S RIGHTS

SPONSOR:  Lipke

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Crime Prevention and Public Safety by a vote of 13 to 0.  Voted
"do pass - not consent" by the Committee on Rules.

This substitute requires a photograph to be taken of an
incarcerated individual upon release and made available to the
victim at the victim's request.  The substitute also allows
victims to be represented by an appointed person instead of a
personal appearance during parole and probation revocation
hearings for the defendant.  The victim's appointee who honors
any subpoena to testify in or attend a criminal proceeding is
protected from discharge by any employer or from using vacation,
personal, or sick leave to attend any criminal proceeding.

Currently, access to official court records for persons arrested
and charged but the case is subsequently nolle prossed,
dismissed, or the accused is found not guilty or imposition of
sentence is suspended is limited to law enforcement agencies,
child care agencies, residential care facilities, and skilled
nursing facilities.  The substitute authorizes access to official
court records to victims of offenses against the family found in
Chapters 566 and 568, RSMo, to use in his or her own judicial
proceedings.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that although Missouri has a very
good victim's bill of rights, there are some things that need to
be added.  Due to the fact that incarcerated individuals often
look different when they are released from when they were first
incarcerated, a photograph should be taken of the criminal upon
release from incarceration at the victim's request.  The bill
also ensures that a victim or a member of his or her family is
not penalized by his or her employer for attending any judicial
proceeding.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Lipke; Department of
Corrections; and Office of the Attorney General.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Kristina Jenkins, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:42 am