Introduced By: Representatives Coderre, Benoit, Slater, Costantino and Barone
Date Introduced : February 3, 1998
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 14-1-69 of the General Laws in Chapter 14-1 entitled "Proceedings in Family Court" is hereby amended to read as follows:
14-1-69. Hearsay. -- In any custody and/or termination trial {ADD and/or a hearing on a motion or probable cause hearing ADD} where a petition has been filed by the department of children, youth, and families in accordance with sections 14-1-11, 40-11-7 and/or 15-7-7 in the family court, the court may, in its discretion, permit as evidence any statement by a child under the age of thirteen (13) years old about a prescribed act of abuse, neglect, or misconduct by a parent or guardian, if that statement was made spontaneously within a reasonable time after the act is alleged to have occurred, and if the statement was made to someone the child would normally turn to for sympathy, protection, or advice.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
