Bill Text: WV SB125 | 2020 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Prohibiting victim from being subjected to certain physical examinations for sexual offenses
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2020-04-14 - Chapter 95, Acts, Regular Session, 2020 [SB125 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2020-SB125-Comm_Sub.html
WEST virginia legislature
2020 regular session
Committee Substitute
for
Senate Bill 125
Senators Trump, Ihlenfeld, and Woelfel, original sponsors
[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary; reported on January 16, 2020]
A BILL to amend and reenact §61-8B-11 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating generally to evidence in prosecution for sexual offenses; prohibiting a victim from being subjected to certain physical examinations; providing that a victim’s refusal to undergo certain physical examinations does not preclude admission of evidence regarding other physical examinations; and defining the term “sexual offense”.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 8B. SEXUAL OFFENSES.
§61-8B-11. Sexual offenses; evidence.
(a) In any prosecution under this article in which the victim’s lack of consent is based solely on the incapacity to consent because such victim was below a critical age, evidence of specific instances of the victim’s sexual conduct, opinion evidence of the victim’s sexual conduct, and reputation evidence of the victim’s sexual conduct shall not be admissible. In any other prosecution under this article, evidence of specific instances of the victim’s prior sexual conduct with the defendant shall be admissible on the issue of consent: Provided, That such evidence heard first out of the presence of the jury is found by the judge to be relevant.
(b) In any prosecution under this article evidence of specific instances of the victim’s sexual conduct with persons other than the defendant, opinion evidence of the victim’s sexual conduct, and reputation evidence of the victim’s sexual conduct shall not be admissible: Provided, That such evidence shall be admissible solely for the purpose of impeaching credibility, if the victim first makes his or her previous sexual conduct an issue in the trial by introducing evidence with respect thereto.
(c) In any prosecution under this article, neither age nor mental capacity of the victim shall preclude the victim from testifying.
(d) At any stage of the proceedings, in any prosecution under this article, the court may permit a child who is 11 years old or less to use anatomically correct dolls, mannequins, or drawings to assist such child in testifying.
(e)(1) A court may not order or otherwise require an alleged victim in a prosecution for a sexual offense to submit to or undergo a gynecological or physical examination of the breasts, buttocks, anus, or any part of the sex organs.
(2) The refusal of an alleged victim to undergo an examination described in subdivision (1) of this section may not serve as the basis to exclude evidence obtained from other relevant examinations of the victim, except where constitutionally required.
(3) For the purposes of this subsection, the term “sexual offense” means any offense in which sexual intercourse, sexual contact, or sexual intrusion is an element of the offense, and includes any prosecution under this article, §61-8-12, or §61-8D-5 of this code.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit a victim in sexual offense prosecutions from being subjected to certain physical examinations. The bill overrules the decision of the Supreme Court of Appeals in State ex rel. J.W. v. Knight, 223 W.Va. 785, 679 S.E.2d 617 (2009).
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
