EXPERT TESTIMONY, HUMAN TRAFFICKING H.B. 4211:
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 4211 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Peter J. Lucido
House Committee: Law and Justice
CONTENT
The bill would amend Chapter 67A (Human Trafficking) of the Michigan Penal Code to specify that expert testimony as to the behavior patterns of human trafficking victims would be admissible if it were otherwise admissible under the rules of evidence and State law.
Chapter 67A specifies that the testimony of a victim of a human trafficking offense is not required in a prosecution for that offense. However, if the victim testifies, that testimony need not be corroborated.
Under the bill, expert testimony as to the behavioral patterns of human trafficking victims and the manner in which a victim's behavior may deviate from societal expectations would be admissible as evidence in court in a prosecution under Chapter 67A if the testimony were otherwise admissible under the rules of evidence and law of the State.
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
MCL 750.462g Legislative Analyst: Jeff Mann
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.