(a)Previously recorded statements. In any case concerning a charge of child abuse or of a sexual offense against a child, the oral statement of a victim or other witness younger than 14 years of age which was recorded prior to the filing of an information or indictment is, upon motion and for good cause shown, admissible as evidence in any court proceeding regarding the offense if all of the following conditions are met:
(a)(1) the child is available to testify and to be cross-examined at trial, either in person or as provided by law, or the child is unavailable to testify at trial, but the defendant had a previous opportunity to cross-examine the child concerning the recorded statement, such that the defendant’s rights of confrontation are not violated;(a)(2) no attorney for either party is in the child’s presence when the statement is recorded;(a)(3) the recording is visual and aural and is recorded on film, videotape or other electronic means;(a)(4) the recording is accurate and has not been altered;(a)(5) each voice in the recording is identified;(a)(6) the person conducting the interview of the child in the recording is present at the proceeding and is available to testify and be cross-examined by either party;(a)(7) the defendant and his attorney are provided an opportunity to view the recording before it is shown to the court or jury; and(a)(8) the court views the recording before it is shown to the jury and determines that it is sufficiently reliable and trustworthy and that the interest of justice will best be served by admission of the statement into evidence.(b)Remote transmission of testimony. In a criminal case concerning a charge of child abuse or of a sexual offense against a child, the court, upon motion of a party and for good cause shown, may order that the testimony of any victim or other witness younger than 14 years of age be taken in a room other than the court room, and be televised by closed circuit equipment to be viewed by the jury in the court room. All of the following conditions shall be observed:
(b)(1) Only the judge, attorneys for each party and the testifying child (if any), persons necessary to operate equipment, and a counselor or therapist whose presence contributes to the welfare and emotional well-being of the child may be in the room during the child’s testimony. A defendant who consents to be hidden from the child’s view may also be present unless the court determines that the child will suffer serious emotional or mental strain if required to testify in the defendant’s presence, or that the child’s testimony will be inherently unreliable if required to testify in the defendant’s presence. If the court makes that determination, or if the defendant consents:
(b)(1)(A) the defendant may not be present during the child’s testimony;(b)(1)(B) the court shall ensure that the child cannot hear or see the defendant;(b)(1)(C) the court shall advise the child prior to his testimony that the defendant is present at the trial and may listen to the child’s testimony;(b)(1)(D) the defendant shall be permitted to observe and hear the child’s testimony, and the court shall ensure that the defendant has a means of two-way telephonic communication with his attorney during the child’s testimony; and(b)(1)(E) the conditions of a normal court proceeding shall be approximated as nearly as possible.(b)(2) Only the judge and an attorney for each party may question the child.(b)(3) As much as possible, persons operating the equipment shall be confined to an adjacent room or behind a screen or mirror so the child cannot see or hear them.(b)(4) If the defendant is present with the child during the child’s testimony, the court may order that persons operating the closed circuit equipment film both the child and the defendant during the child’s testimony, so that the jury may view both the child and the defendant, if that may be arranged without violating other requirements of Subsection (b)(1).(c)Remote recording of testimony. In any criminal case concerning a charge of child abuse or of a sexual offense against a child, the court may order, upon motion of a party and for good cause shown, that the testimony of any victim or other witness younger than 14 years of age be taken outside the courtroom and be recorded. That testimony is admissible as evidence, for viewing in any court proceeding regarding the charges if the provisions of Subsection (b) are observed, in addition to the following provisions:
(c)(1) the recording is visual and aural and recorded on film, videotape or by other electronic means;(c)(2) the recording is accurate and is not altered;(c)(3) each voice on the recording is identified; and(c)(4) each party is given an opportunity to view the recording before it is shown in the courtroom.(d)Presence of child when recording is used. If the court orders that the testimony of a child be taken under Subsection (b) or (c), the child may not be required to testify in court at any proceeding where the recorded testimony is used.
