Includes aggravated cemetery desecration in the second degree and aggravated cemetery desecration in the first degree as specified offenses for purposes of hate crimes.
Enacts the "child survivor privacy act"; provides protections for child victims and child witnesses; restricts information to the public regarding a child witness or child victim's identity or proceeding; defines child witness; provides that whenever practical, the same prosecutor, advocate, and/or social worker shall handle all aspects of a case involving an alleged child victim.
Enacts "Lorraine's Law"; increases from twenty-four to sixty months, the time for which reconsideration for parole for a violent felony offense shall be determined.
Directs the office of mental health to develop materials relating to suicide prevention and identifying signs of depression for school-aged children; authorizes school districts to include suicide prevention in health class curriculum.
Creates a state trooper highway memorial task force to develop and establish guidelines for recognition of members of the division of state police who have died in the line of duty; provides such recognition shall be by means of dedicating a portion of the state highway system, or the placement of a memorial plaque or marker along a state highway.
Requires sellers of catalytic converters to provide certain information to potential buyers; requires buyers to maintain records of such purchases; makes any violations a class A misdemeanor; imposes a fine of up to $5,000
Provides that the court may, in its discretion, dispense with the defendant's personal appearance at an arraignment and conduct an electronic arraignment.
Establishes the rural teacher education loan repayment program in the education department which provides payment for the undergraduate and graduate education loans of teachers in rural school districts who agree to teach in rural areas for at least 5 years.