House Bill No. 126, also known as "Duvall and Karissa's Law," amends existing legislation regarding the use of facility dogs in court. The bill expands the current provisions to allow any witness involved in a trial for a sex offense to be accompanied by a facility dog while testifying, in addition to witnesses under eighteen years of age or those with developmental disabilities. The court is granted the authority to obscure the dog's presence from the jury and to instruct the jury on the role of the facility dog, either on its own motion or upon request from either party. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the entry and exit of the facility dog from the courtroom occur outside the jury's presence.

The proposed law retains the existing definitions and requirements for facility dogs, which are trained to provide emotional support without causing distractions during judicial proceedings. The amendments made by the House Committee on Judiciary and the House Floor further clarify the procedures for the use of facility dogs, ensuring that their presence does not influence the jury's perception of the testimony provided.

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