House Bill No. by Representative Mandie Landry amends R.S. 15:284(A) to expand the use of facility dogs in court settings. The bill stipulates that witnesses who are victims of sex offenses, in addition to those under eighteen years of age or with developmental disabilities, are permitted to be accompanied by a facility dog while testifying, provided that a facility dog is available. This change aims to provide emotional support to vulnerable witnesses during judicial proceedings.

The bill retains existing provisions regarding the use of facility dogs, including the requirement for notice to the court and jury instructions about the role of the facility dog. It also maintains the definition of a "facility dog" as one that is certified and trained to provide emotional support without causing distractions in court. The law will be referred to as "Duvall's Law," emphasizing its focus on supporting victims of sex offenses during testimony.

Statutes affected:
HB126 Original: 15:284(A)