Witnesses.

Existing law provides that a prosecuting witness in the prosecution of a case involving murder, kidnapping, and certain sex offenses, among other specified offenses, is entitled, for support, to the attendance of up to 2 persons of his or her own choosing at the preliminary hearing and at the trial or juvenile court proceeding during the testimony of the prosecuting witness, as specified. This bill would extend these provisions to include cases involving attempted violations of the above-described offenses, and would expand the list of offenses that a witness is entitled to support to include kidnapping with the intent to commit robbery or specified sex offenses, certain sex offenses involving a minor under 10 years of age, criminal threats, and stalking. Existing law requires courts to take special precautions to provide for the comfort and protection of a person with a disability or a minor under 11 years of age when that person is testifying in criminal proceedings alleging certain sex offenses committed with or upon that person. The court may, among other things, allow the witness reasonable periods of relief and relocate parties within the courtroom. This bill would extend these provisions to include cases involving attempted violations of the above-described offenses, and would expand the list of offenses that special precautions apply to include kidnapping with the intent to commit robbery or specified sex offenses, assault with intent to commit certain felonies, human trafficking, aggravated sexual assault of a child, certain sex offenses involving a minor under 10 years of age, criminal threats, and stalking.