Witness testimony; accompanied by certified facility dogs. (SB420)
Introduced By
Sen. Ryan McDougle (R-Mechanicsville) with support from co-patron Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✓ |
Passed Committee |
✓ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
✓ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Witness testimony accompanied by certified facility dogs. Provides that in any criminal proceeding the attorney for the Commonwealth or the defendant may request and the court may enter an order authorizing the use of a certified facility dog to aid a testifying witness, provided that the use of a certified facility dog will aid the witness in providing testimony and the presence and use of the certified facility dog will not interfere with or distract from the testimony or proceedings. The bill provides that the court may make any orders necessary to preserve the fairness of the proceeding, including imposing restrictions on and instructing the jury regarding the presence of the certified facility dog. The bill defines "certified facility dog" as a dog that (i) has completed training and been certified by a program accredited by Assistance Dogs International or another organization whose main purpose is to improve training, placement, and utilization of assistance dogs and (ii) is accompanied by a duly trained handler. This bill is identical to HB 482. Read the Bill »
Outcome
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
01/09/2018 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18101337D |
01/09/2018 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
01/22/2018 | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (10-Y 4-N) (see vote tally) |
01/22/2018 | Committee substitute printed 18104871D-S1 |
01/23/2018 | Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
01/24/2018 | Read second time |
01/24/2018 | Reading of substitute waived |
01/24/2018 | Committee substitute agreed to 18104871D-S1 |
01/24/2018 | Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB420S1 |
01/25/2018 | Read third time and passed Senate (30-Y 10-N) (see vote tally) |
01/29/2018 | Placed on Calendar |
01/29/2018 | Read first time |
01/29/2018 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
02/15/2018 | Assigned Courts sub: Subcommittee #1 |
02/21/2018 | Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 0-N) |
02/23/2018 | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (18-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/23/2018 | Committee substitute printed 18107299D-H1 |
02/27/2018 | Read second time |
02/28/2018 | Read third time |
02/28/2018 | Committee substitute agreed to 18107299D-H1 |
02/28/2018 | Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB420H1 |
02/28/2018 | Passed House with substitute BLOCK VOTE (98-Y 0-N) |
02/28/2018 | VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (98-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
03/02/2018 | House substitute agreed to by Senate (31-Y 7-N) (see vote tally) |
03/02/2018 | Title replaced 18107299D-H1 |
03/06/2018 | Enrolled |
03/06/2018 | Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB420ER) |
03/06/2018 | Signed by Speaker |
03/09/2018 | Signed by President |
03/15/2018 | Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 15, 2018 |
03/15/2018 | G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, April 9, 2018 |
03/30/2018 | G Approved by Governor-Chapter 699 (effective 7/1/18) |
03/30/2018 | G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0699) |