LRB-1128/1
MGD:jld:rs
2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
March 8, 2005 - Introduced by Representatives Molepske, Van Akkeren, Seidel,
Turner, Zepnick, Cullen, Colon, Bies, Hahn, Hines, Vruwink, Grigsby,
Berceau, Ott, Sheridan and M. Williams, cosponsored by Senators Hansen,
Roessler and Lassa. Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and
Homeland Security.
AB172,1,2
1An Act to amend 950.02 (1) and 950.02 (3) of the statutes;
relating to: the rights
2of adult children of crime victims.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a victim of a crime has a variety of rights, including the right
to notice of court proceedings, the right to make a statement in connection with a
sentencing, dispositional, or parole hearing, and the right to restitution. Family
members have those rights if the victim is deceased or is physically or emotionally
unable to exercise his or her own rights as a victim. Current law defines "family
member" to include a spouse, child, sibling, parent, or legal guardian, but in this
context "child" does not include a person who is 18 years or older. Thus, adult
children of a deceased victim or of a victim who is otherwise unable to exercise his
or her own rights do not have rights as crime victims.
This bill amends the definition of "family member" so that it includes adult
children. Under the bill, an adult child would have the same rights as a minor child
in cases in which the victim is deceased or is otherwise unable to exercise his or her
own rights.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB172, s. 1
1Section
1. 950.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB172,2,32
950.02
(1) "Child" Except in sub. (3), "child" means a person who is less than
318 years of age.
AB172, s. 2
4Section
2. 950.02 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB172,2,65
950.02
(3) "Family member" means spouse,
minor child,
adult child, sibling,
6parent
, or legal guardian.
