FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lance Gideon, Press Secretary
Lance.Gideon@iga.in.gov
317-234-9221
STATEHOUSE (Jan. 25, 2023) — A bill authored by State Sen. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) that would protect child victims passed Senate Committee on Judiciary today by a vote of 7-1.
Senate Enrolled Act 206, authored by Messmer in 2020, was put into place in order to require the presence of a prosecuting attorney during the deposition of a child sex abuse victim.
Since its implementation, defense attorneys have been sidestepping the law by saying they are not deposing the child victim, but merely interviewing them.
Senate Bill 331 would close that loophole and give child victims the protections legally intended in SEA 206.
"I am pleased that the committee voted to move this bill to the full Senate," Messmer said. "Senate Enrolled Act 206 was intended to protect children from undue harm, and I believe Senate Bill 331 will help ensure the law's original intent."
SB 331 now moves to the full Senate for further consideration.
Legislative calendars, agendas, vote tallies, live streams and proposed legislation can be viewed online by visiting iga.in.gov.
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State Sen. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) represents Senate District 48, which
includes Crawford, Dubois, Gibson, Perry, Pike and Spencer counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
