Posted: | May 8, 2014 11:24 AM |
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From: | Representative Michelle F. Brownlee |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | REQUEST FOR SPONSORS: VICTIM'S DATABASE/RIGHT-TO-KNOW |
Several weeks ago, I circulated a memorandum seeking co-sponsors for a legislative proposal that would have authorized a “victim’s restitution database” within the Office of Victims’ Service. Recently, it has come to my attention that the Office of Victim Advocate, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections and the Board of Probation & Parole, is currently using existing technology to create a web-based application that will facilitate the registration of victims and, subsequently, the update of their personal information. As a result, these efforts negate the need for my legislation. However, it is now my intention to introduce legislation that would amend the Crime Victims Act to exclude all records and information pertaining to a victim that is possessed or maintained by the Office of Victim Advocate from the Right-To-Know Law. As stipulated in my proposal, all records and information relating to a victim would be the property of the Office of Victim Advocate, would be confidential, and would not be subject to the Right-To-Know Law. Conversely, victim’s information maintained in the database could be released to a State or Local government agency that has a duty or necessity to maintain contact with the victim, but such information would not be disclosed to any other person without the written consent of the victim. I thank you in advance for joining me as a co-sponsor of this legislative proposal. If you have questions, please contact my office at (717) 787-3480. |
Introduced as HB2347