2005 Senate Bill 263 (Allow certain hearsay evidence in domestic violence cases )

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Public Act 79 of 2006

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Introduced by Sen. Beverly Hammerstrom (R) on March 2, 2005, to allow hearsay evidence that refers to a threat of physical violence made near in time to the crime to be admissible in domestic violence court cases. This would apply to the statements victims make to emergency responders, but then may recant under pressure from the perpetrator.
- Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 2, 2005.
  - Reported in the Senate on October 19, 2005, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-4) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
- Substitute offered in the Senate on November 2, 2005, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described. The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on November 2, 2005.
Passed in the Senate (38 to 0) on November 3, 2005. [Vote Details and Comments]
Received in the House on November 3, 2005.
- Referred to the House Judiciary Committee on November 3, 2005.
  - Reported in the House on February 22, 2006, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
- Substitute offered in the House on March 2, 2006, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described. The substitute passed in the House by voice vote on March 2, 2006.
- Amendment offered by Rep. William Van Regenmorter (R) on March 2, 2006, to clarify that the bill applies to hearings starting on May 1, 2006. The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on March 2, 2006.
Passed in the House (107 to 0) on March 7, 2006, to allow hearsay evidence that refers to a threat of physical violence made near in time to the crime to be admissible in domestic violence court cases. This would apply to the statements victims make to emergency responders, but then may recant under pressure from the perpetrator. [Vote Details and Comments]
Received in the House on March 7, 2006, to give the bill immediate effect. Passed in the House (107 to 0) on March 7, 2006. [Vote Details and Comments]
Received in the Senate on March 8, 2006.
Passed in the Senate (37 to 0) on March 14, 2006, to concur with the House-passed version of the bill. [Vote Details and Comments]
Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on March 23, 2006.

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1) I agree, Nothing but FACTS Ma'am [by Anonymous Citizen on March 11, 2006]
We are deciding to many issues these days on He said, She said. I.E. Our media reports so many untruths and half truths as facts.. We can't live in a free society without the truth...
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2) Just [by Anonymous Citizen on February 24, 2006]
another few feet down the slippery slope.
This will be great for disgruntled man haters in court. The feminasty movement has infiltrated society to such an extent that all men are now guilty, always. How many divorced guys haven't at one time or another mumbled something that now can get them locked up? Better build more jails.
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3) Sen. Cropsey's "Journal statement" [by Admin003 on November 4, 2005]
Senator Cropsey's statement is as follows:

Before we vote on these two bills, I want to again publicly thank the Senators from the 13th District and the 17th District for introducing these bills and pushing the issue forward. As I mentioned yesterday, they have spent five tireless years attempting to get these policy changes implemented through the court rule process, only to see opposition from certain attorneys kill those rule changes.

Allow me to once again quote from two sources on these policy changes: first, from the Department of Justice based on the police reports, including rape, physical assault, and stalking, almost 25 percent of the white women in America have reported some type of domestic victimization; and this goes up to a staggering 37.5 percent of American Indian women.

Secondly, from a report entitled "The Motherhood Study" from the University of Minnesota and the University of Connecticut, findings that should be obvious, and I quote: "Presented with a list of possible changes to make life better for mothers and children, mothers most often indicated as high priorities: first, reducing all forms of family violence--94 percent; second, enabling mothers to spend more time with their children--86 percent; and third, promoting healthy marriages--86 percent." As the authors summarize this, they state, "Three issues identified in the key findings seem to have particular salience with mothers in this study, and appear to be ripe for immediate action. First, mothers place a high priority on reducing family violence and promoting healthy marriages." And then they go on.

Domestic violence has to end. The women we are elected to represent deserve this at the very least. It's time to put a stop to this madness. The time is, indeed, ripe for immediate action. It's time to pass these bills, and again, I want to thank Senators Johnson and Hammerstrom, and I urge your support for Senate Bill No.120 and Senate Bill No.263.

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