Wolf signs bills to ban female genital mutilation, strengthen crime victim rights

With the Legislature out of session for the summer, Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday ceremonially signed six bills designed to boost the rights of crime victims in Pennsylvania.

The legislation Wolf officially signed into law on June 28 are, per his office:

“House Bill 315, which criminalizes female genital mutilation by making it a first-degree felony.
“House Bill 502, which amends the Crime Victims Act to allow the victim to be present in any criminal proceeding unless the court determines the victim’s own testimony would be altered by hearing other witnesses.
“House Bill 504, which prevents prosecutors bringing up the victim’s sexual history or prior allegations of sexual abuse while prosecuting certain crimes.
“Senate Bill 399, which makes updates to the Sexual Assault Testing and Evidence Collection Act, including requiring the Pennsylvania State Police to create procedures for anonymous victims and establishing timelines for submitting, testing, and storing rape kits.
“Senate Bill 469, which establishes procedures protecting victims and witnesses with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder, including allowing for testimony and questioning to take place outside of a courtroom.
“Senate Bill 479, which expands the list of crimes for which an out-of-court statement made by a child under 12 can be used.”

Read more: https://www.penncapital-star.com/blog/wolf-signs-bills-to-ban-female-genital-mutilation-strengthen-crime-victim-rights/