H.B. 576

VETOES

(d) A judge may remove a victim or representative from the trial for the same
causes and in the same manner as the laws or rules of court provide for the exclusion or
removal of the defendant.

DRAFTER'S NOTE: This section formerly was Art. 27, § 620 of the Code.

There are no changes.

774. TESTIMONY OF CHILD ABUSE VICTIM BY CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION.

(a)     In a case of abuse of a child as defined in § 5-701 of the Family Law Article
or [Article 27, § 35A of the Code] § 35C OF THIS ARTICLE, a court may order that the
testimony of a child victim be taken outside the courtroom and shown in the courtroom by
means of closed circuit television if:

(1)     The testimony is taken during the proceeding; and

(2)     The judge determines that testimony by the child victim in the
defendant's presence will result in the child suffering serious emotional distress such that
the child cannot reasonably communicate.

(b)     (1) Only the following persons may be in the room with the child when the
child testifies by closed circuit television:

(i) The prosecuting attorney;

(ii) The attorney for the defendant;

(iii) The operators of the closed circuit television equipment; and

(iv) [Unless the defendant objects] SUBJECT TO THE MARYLAND
RULES, any person whose presence, in the opinion of the court, contributes to the
well-being of the child, including a person who has dealt with the child in a therapeutic
setting concerning the abuse.

(2)     During the child's testimony by closed circuit television, the judge and
the defendant shall be in the courtroom.

(3)     The judge and the defendant shall be allowed to communicate with the
persons in the room where the child is testifying by any appropriate electronic method.

(4)     Only the prosecuting attorney, the attorney for any defendant, and the
judge may question the child.

(c)     (1) In determining whether testimony by the child victim in the defendant's
presence will result in the child suffering serious emotional distress such that the child
cannot reasonably communicate, the judge may observe and question the child either
inside or outside the courtroom and hear testimony of a parent or custodian of the child
or any other person, including a person who has dealt with the child in a therapeutic
setting.

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