MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE

Friday, May 23, 2008

10:00 a.m.

University of Houston Hilton Hotel, Flamingo Room, Suite 275

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public meeting of the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence was held on Friday, May 23, 2008, at the University of Houston Hilton Hotel, Flamingo Room, Suite 275.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jeff Wentworth Senator Juan Hinojosa Senator John Carona Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. Senator Kirk Watson		Senator Robert Duncan Senator Chris Harris

 

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The Chair made opening remarks.

 

The Chair laid out Interim Charge One:  Study the laws governing suits affecting the parent-child relationship involving non-parents, including suits for possession of or access to a child by a grandparent, and make recommendations for providing the best care and protection for the children involved.  Provide an assessment of the constitutional issues involved with these suits.

 

Witnesses are shown on the attached list.

 

At 12:00 p.m. Senator Wentworth moved that the Committee stand recessed until 1:00 p.m.; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 1:05 p.m. the Committee reconvened.

 

The Chair laid out Interim Charge Four:  Identify and study best practices for representation of children in child abuse and neglect cases and determine whether to implement further training, oversight, or other requirements for judges, attorneys, and others responsible for child abuse and neglect cases, including child sexual abuse cases.  Develop and implement tools for children's advocacy centers (CACs) and prosecutors to successfully investigate and prosecute child abusers.  Include the following:

-          Explore changes to the rules of evidence that could facilitate the presentation of child testimony in court;

-          Explore making prior extraneous sex offenses admissible during determination of guilt, as has been adopted in the federal court system; and

-          Explore possible expansion of the rules regarding how cases are consolidated and punishments are stacked in a single trial involving a crime committed against a child.

 

Witnesses are shown on the attached list.

 

At 3:40 p.m. Senator Gallegos, Jr. assumed the chair. 

 

At 3:49 p.m. Senator Wentworth resumed the chair. 

 

There being no further business, at 3:53 p.m. Senator Wentworth moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair

 

 

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Stephanie Hoover, Clerk