Senate Bill 884 proposes amendments to the statutes regarding the admissibility of audiovisual recordings of children's statements in legal proceedings. Under the current law, such recordings can be admitted as evidence if the trial or hearing commences before the child's 12th birthday or before their 16th birthday, provided certain conditions are met. The bill seeks to extend this age limit, allowing recordings made before a child's 18th birthday to be considered for admission, thereby broadening the scope of when these recordings can be utilized in court.

The bill also maintains the requirement for the court or hearing examiner to assess the interests of justice when determining the admissibility of these recordings. It specifies that the same factors currently considered for children aged 12 to 16 will now apply to those aged 12 to 18, ensuring that the child's age, development, health, and understanding of the situation are taken into account. The amendments include the deletion of references to the 16th birthday and the insertion of the 18th birthday in the relevant sections of the law.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 908.08(3)(a)(intro.), 908.08, 908.08(3)(a)2, 908.08(4)(intro.)