The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard HB 1531, sponsored by Sen. Steele and Sen. Houchin and presented by author Rep. Davisson, concerning video conferencing by confined persons. The bill provides for using two-way video conferencing between courts and DOC inmates and between jail inmates and mental health providers. The committee raised a number of questions … [Read more...] about Video conferencing by confined persons
Identifying information for adoptions
The House Judiciary Committee heard SB 352, sponsored by Rep. Steuerwald and Rep. McMillin, concerning identifying information for adoptions. Sen. Steele, an author of the bill, explained that this bill repeals, effective July 1, 2016, provisions applicable to adoptions finalized before January 1, 1994, that prohibit the release of identifying adoption information unless a consent … [Read more...] about Identifying information for adoptions
CHINS and delinquent child dual determination
The Senate Family and Children Services Committee heard HB 1196 on CHINS and delinquent child dual determination sponsored by Sen. Head and Sen. Bray. Sen. Head explained that the bill coordinates services when a child is identified as both a CHINS and a delinquent. The bill authorizes the juvenile court to order a dual status assessment conducted by a dual assessment team to make … [Read more...] about CHINS and delinquent child dual determination
Magistrates and criminal trials
The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 137, sponsored by Rep. Fine and Rep. Slager, on magistrates and criminal trials, prohibiting a magistrate’s presiding at sentencing when (1) the magistrate had not also presided at trial and (2) the defendant objected to the magistrate presiding at sentencing. Author Sen. Randolph presented the bill to the Committee. A technical … [Read more...] about Magistrates and criminal trials
Service of process fees collected by a sheriff
The House Judiciary Committee heard SB 217, sponsored by Reps. Gutwein, McNamara, and Lawson, concerning service of process fees collected by a sheriff. Author Sen. Boots explained that this bill increases the service of process fee from $13 to $25 from a party requesting service of a writ, an order, a process, a notice, a tax warrant, or any other paper completed by the sheriff. … [Read more...] about Service of process fees collected by a sheriff