Tucson, Arizona Thursday, 20 February 2003
Legislative briefing
CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES
Protecting unborn
State lawmakers moved Wednesday to change a provision in state statutes dealing with the death of an unborn child.
Current law says someone can be guilty of fetal man-slaughter only if the assail-ant inflicted life-threatening injuries on the mother.
That allowed a Mesa man who punched his pregnant girlfriend in the abdomen to kill the unborn child to escape manslaughter charges and instead be charged only with assault on the mother.
SB 1345 as approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee would permit manslaughter to be charged no matter how minor the assault on the mother. The bill needs full Senate approval.
Domestic violence
Workers at domestic violence shelters would gain the same protection from being forced to testify as priests and attorneys under the terms of legislation approved Wednesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Backers of SB 1098 say victims who seek assistance may disclose information to an advocate that he or she does not want disclosed. State law currently provides no shield.