SB 113-18: Hearsay Exception Act (Passed)

[Mr. Reactionary]

HEARSAY EXCEPTION ACT

1. The Federal Rules of Evidence shall be amended to include the following exemption to the rule against admitting hearsay evidence:

Out of court statements made by any minor who is otherwise not competent to testify under oath may be permitted in criminal cases involving sexual offenses or other crimes of violence against the minor to supplement other admissible evidence.

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Sponsor: Deadprez
Debate on this bill is now open.

[Mr. Reactionary]

https://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2022/12/virginia-appeals-court-sides-with-fairfax-county-on-new-hearsay-evidence-exception/

Here is an article with some background.

Basically, this bill would allow a narrow new exception to the rule against using hearsay evidence in court. The exception is basically for statements made by severely autistic or other mentally impaired kids who arent competent to otherwise testify in abuse cases as long as the testimony isnt tge sole evidence. The goal is fight abuse against mentally impaired kids.

[Enduro]

A vitally important bill, I think.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Seems reasonable, especially since it is stated as a supplement to other admissible evidence, I don't really see any downside here.

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

This is obviously a very serious criminal matter, so evidence should be supplemented in cases where the victim isn't in the mental state to testify in their own right.

[Mr. Reactionary]

So this bill has been on the floor the required 96 hours, has been debated, and appears to be uncontroversial to a broad consensus, so to help us get to the dozens of bills in the backlog, I hereby move that we proceed to a final vote on this bill. 24 hours to object.

[Mr. Reactionary]

A final vote is now open on this bill lasting until noon eastern on Friday (99 hours) or until everyone votes, whichever occurs soonest. Please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

HEARSAY EXCEPTION ACT

1. The Federal Rules of Evidence shall be amended to include the following exemption to the rule against admitting hearsay evidence:

Out of court statements made by any minor who is otherwise not competent to testify under oath may be permitted in criminal cases involving sexual offenses or other crimes of violence against the minor to supplement other admissible evidence.

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Aye

[West_Midlander]

Aye

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

Aye

[Liminal Trans Girl]

Aye

[OSR stands with Israel]

Aye

[Saint Milei]

aye

[Utah Neolib]

Aye

[GM Team Member and Deputy PPT WB]

Aye

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Aye

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Aye

[Senator Spiral]

Aye

[PragmaticPopulist]

Aye

[Enduro]

Aye

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Aye

[Mr. Reactionary]

Bill passes 15-0-0-3.

[Mr. Reactionary]

HEARSAY EXCEPTION ACT

1. The Federal Rules of Evidence shall be amended to include the following exemption to the rule against admitting hearsay evidence:

Out of court statements made by any minor who is otherwise not competent to testify under oath may be permitted in criminal cases involving sexual offenses or other crimes of violence against the minor to supplement other admissible evidence.

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Passed 15-0-0-3 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled.

- R, PPT