Mississippi SB 2543: Department of Public Safety; revise provisions related to.

Bill Text

SB2543_S_(Cmte_Sub)_Amend_01 

Adopted

AMENDMENT NO 1 PROPOSED TO

Cmte Sub for Senate Bill No. 
2543

BY: Senator(s) England

���� AMEND by deleting the 
language on lines 309 through 329 and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

���� (4) �(a)� In criminal trials 
where the testimony of a current or former State Medical Examiner, Deputy State 
Medical Examiner, or member of the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory is needed, 
the use of audiovisual communications equipment to present such testimony 
remotely is allowed when the state has provided written notice to the defendant 
at least ninety (90) days prior to trial of its intent to present such remote 
testimony, and the defendant provides no written objection within fourteen (14) 
days of receiving such notice. �Should the defendant object, the remote 
testimony shall only be permitted upon a finding by the court that the rights 
of the defendant to confront the witness against the defendant is not violated, 
that compelling circumstances exist to allow such remote testimony, and that the 
remote testimony can be provided with appropriate safeguards so as to assure 
the reliability of the testimony of the witness during the trial.

��������� (b)� 
All persons qualified to administer an oath in the State of Mississippi may 
swear a witness remotely by audio-video communication technology, provided they 
can positively identify the witness and they are able to both see and hear the 
witness via audiovisual communications equipment.

���� FURTHER, AMEND on line 
584 by deleting the following language:

, and shall 
stand repealed on June 30, 2022