Art. 324. Authorization

A. A court exercising juvenile jurisdiction may require that a statement of a protected person be recorded on videotape in conformity with Article 326 by any of the following:

(1) Motion of the court or motion of the district attorney, a parish welfare unit or agency, the Department of Children and Family Services, or a child advocacy center operating in the judicial district.

(2) Adoption of a local court rule that authorizes the videotaping of any protected person without the necessity of the issuance of an order by the court in any individual case.

(3) Execution of a written protocol between the court and law enforcement agencies, a parish welfare unit or agency, the Department of Children and Family Services, or a child advocacy center operating in the judicial district that authorizes the videotaping of any protected person without the necessity of the issuance of an order by the court in any individual case.

B. The coroner may, in conjunction with the district attorney and appropriate hospital personnel and pursuant to their duties in R.S. 40:2109.1 and R.S. 40:2113.4, provide for the videotaping of the statements of children under the age of seventeen who present themselves or who are brought to a hospital for treatment as victims of rape or who have been otherwise physically or sexually abused.

C. Such a videotape shall be available for introduction into evidence in any juvenile proceeding under this Code in which it is relevant.

Acts 1991, No. 235, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1992; Acts 2004, No. 241, §2; Acts 2007, No. 70, §2; Acts 2014, No. 647, §2.