HBA-LJP H.B. 1167 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1167
By: Crabb
Criminal Jurisprudence
4/5/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Testimony in a court proceeding for a child can be frightening and
traumatic.  Sometimes a child is questioned in a proceeding that involves
subject matter that is inappropriate or too mature for children. House Bill
1167 requires a court in a criminal or civil proceeding to ensure that
questions asked of a child younger than 13 years of age are appropriate to
the age and understanding of a child. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1167 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Civil
Practice and Remedies Code to require the court in a criminal or civil
proceeding to require that questions directed to a witness who is a child
younger than 13 years of age be in a form reasonably appropriate to the age
and understanding of the child, and limit the unnecessary repetition of
questions directed to the child.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.