BILL AS INTRODUCED H.720
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1 H.720
2 Introduced by Representative Carroll of Bennington
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Court procedure; pleading and practice; abusive discovery by self-
6 represented party
7 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require, if a
8 criminal defendant publicizes discovery information received by the
9 prosecution for the purpose of abusing, harassing, intimidating, threatening, or
10 damaging the reputation of a person identified in the discovery information,
11 that the court order the defendant to cease the improper use of the information
12 and fine the defendant not more than $10.000.00.
13 An act relating to improper disclosure of discovery information in criminal
14 proceedings
15 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
16 Sec. 1. 13 V.S.A. § 6608 is added to read:
17 § 6608. DISCLOSURE OF DISCOVERY FOR IMPROPER PURPOSE;
18 CIVIL CONTEMPT
19 (a) If a criminal defendant in a prosecution in the Criminal Division of the
20 Superior Court publicizes discovery information received from the prosecution VT LEG #372200 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.720
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1 for the purpose of abusing, harassing, intimidating, threatening, or damaging
2 the reputation of a person identified in the discovery information, the court
3 shall:
4 (1) issue an order requiring the defendant to cease the improper use of
5 the discovery information; and
6 (2) assess a civil penalty of not more than $10,000.00 against the
7 defendant.
8 (b) A person who fails to comply with an order issued under subsection (a)
9 of this section shall be subject to civil contempt proceedings under 12 V.S.A.
10 chapter 5.
11 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE
12 This act shall take effect on passage.
VT LEG #372200 v.1