January 11, 2018, Introduced by Reps. Hughes, Victory and Kesto and referred to the Committee on Law and Justice.
A bill to amend 1985 PA 87, entitled
"William Van Regenmorter crime victim's rights act,"
by amending sections 15, 43, and 75 (MCL 780.765, 780.793, and
780.825), as amended by 2000 PA 503.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 15. (1) The victim has the right to appear and make an
oral impact statement at the sentencing of the defendant. If the
victim is physically or emotionally unable to make the oral impact
statement, the victim may designate any other person 18 years of
age or older who is neither the defendant nor incarcerated to make
the statement on his or her behalf. The other person need not be an
attorney.
(2) Unless the court has determined, in its discretion, that
the defendant is behaving in a disruptive manner or in a manner
that presents a threat to the safety of any individuals present in
the courtroom, the defendant must be physically present in the
courtroom at the time a victim makes an oral impact statement under
subsection (1).
(3) The 2018 amendatory act that amended this section and
sections 43 and 75 shall be known and may be cited as the "Rebekah
Bletsch law".
Sec. 43. (1) The victim has the right to appear and make an
oral impact statement at the juvenile's disposition or sentencing.
If the victim is physically or emotionally unable to make the oral
impact statement, the victim may designate any other person 18
years of age or older who is neither the defendant nor incarcerated
to make the statement on his or her behalf. The other person need
not be an attorney.
(2) Upon request, the victim shall be notified by the
prosecuting attorney, or, pursuant to an agreement under section
48a, the court of the disposition of the juvenile's offense not
more than 30 days after the disposition is made.
(3) Unless the court has determined, in its discretion, that
the juvenile is behaving in a disruptive manner or in a manner that
presents a threat to the safety of any individuals present in the
courtroom, the juvenile must be physically present in the courtroom
at the time a victim makes an oral impact statement under
subsection (1).
(4) The 2018 amendatory act that amended this section and
sections 15 and 75 shall be known and may be cited as the "Rebekah
Bletsch law".
Sec. 75. (1) If no presentence report is prepared, the court
shall notify the prosecuting attorney of the date and time of
sentencing at least 10 days prior to the sentencing. The victim has
the right to submit a written impact statement and has the right to
appear and make an oral impact statement at the sentencing of the
defendant. If the victim is physically or emotionally unable to
make the oral impact statement, the victim may designate any other
person 18 years of age or older who is neither the defendant nor
incarcerated to make the statement on his or her behalf. The other
person need not be an attorney. The court shall consider the
victim's statement in imposing sentence on the defendant.
(2) Unless the court has determined, in its discretion, that
the defendant is behaving in a disruptive manner or in a manner
that presents a threat to the safety of any individuals present in
the courtroom, the defendant must be physically present in the
courtroom at the time a victim makes an oral impact statement under
subsection (1).
(3) The 2018 amendatory act that amended this section and
sections 15 and 43 shall be known and may be cited as the "Rebekah
Bletsch law".
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days
after the date it is enacted into law.