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2015 SESSION

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SB 794 Judicial personnel; testimony of certain personnel.

Introduced by: Charles W. Carrico, Sr. | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Testimony of certain judicial personnel. Clarifies that certain persons who have the power to issue warrants are competent to testify in a criminal proceeding in which the defendant is charged with perjury.

SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE:

Issuance of arrest warrants; competency to testify. Provides that a judicial officer who finds probable cause may issue a misdemeanor arrest warrant if the complainant is a person other than a law-enforcement officer or an animal control officer and shall issue an arrest warrant if the complainant is a law-enforcement officer or an animal control officer.   The bill also provides that certain persons who have the power to issue warrants are competent to testify in a criminal proceeding on a crime committed in their presence in the course of their official duties.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Magistrates; issuance of arrest warrants; competency to testify. Provides that a magistrate may not issue an arrest warrant for any criminal offense upon the basis of a complaint by a person other than a law-enforcement officer or an animal control officer without prior authorization from the attorney for the Commonwealth or a law-enforcement agency in his jurisdiction. This procedure already applies to felonies; this bill will add misdemeanors to the existing provision. The bill provides that a person who has the power to issue warrants is competent to testify in a criminal proceeding on a crime committed in his presence in the course of his official duties.