WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

This bill provides the presumption that victims of violent crime
have the right to be present at a trial.

Senate Bill 416, which was passed by the General Assembly and
signed by me on May 19, 1989, accomplishes the same purpose.
Therefore, it is not necessary for me to sign House Bill 679.

Sincerely,

William Donald Schaefer

Governor

House Bill No. 679

AN ACT concerning

Crimes and Punishments - Crime Victims -
Presence During Trial

FOR the purpose of creating a presumption of the right of certain
crime victims or their representatives to be present at a
criminal trial; authorizing the sequestration of a victim or
representative from certain parts of a criminal trial upon a
finding of good cause; defining certain terms; allowing a
victim to be removed from a trial under certain
circumstances; and generally relating to the sequestration
of crime victims during a criminal trial.

BY repealing

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

Section 620

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1987 Replacement Volume and 1988 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

Section 620

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1987 Replacement Volume and 1988 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

[620.

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