00HOUSE BILL NO. 78                                                                                                       
01 "An Act relating to the testimony of children in certain criminal proceedings; and                                      
02 providing for an effective date."                                                                                       
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  AS 12.45.046(a) is amended to read:                                                                    
05  (a)  In a criminal proceeding under AS 11.41 involving the prosecution of an                                          
06 offense committed against a child under the age of 16 [13], or witnessed by a child                                   
07 under the age of 16 [13], the court                                                                                   
08   (1)  may appoint a guardian ad litem for the child;                                                                  
09   (2)  on its own motion or on the motion of the party presenting the                                                  
10 witness or the guardian ad litem of the child, may order that the testimony of the child                                
11 be taken by closed circuit television or through one-way mirrors if the court determines                                
12 that the testimony by the child victim or witness under normal court procedures would                                   
13 result in the child's inability to effectively communicate.                                                             
14    * Sec. 2.  The amendment of AS 12.45.046(a) by sec. 1 of this Act is retroactive and                                 

01 applies to criminal proceedings involving the prosecution of an offense committed before the                            
02 effective date of this Act.                                                                                             
03    * Sec. 3.  This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).