SB20: Bill Text

If the crime victim declines to disclose his or her mental health treatment records for an in camera review, the court must abide by his or her declination and must permit the victim to testify at trial. The defendant, however, may then comment on the declination and question the victim about those records.

All filings and records pertinent to this process and the mental health treatment records of the victim are to be sealed by the court. Additionally, all decisions of the court during this process may be appealed at any time by the state or the crime victim as a matter of right.

This bill also adds enumerated rights to the basic bill of rights for victims describing the right of a victim to privacy in his or her mental health treatment records, in accordance with the new procedure that the bill creates.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB20,1 Section 1 . 950.04 (1v) (df) of the statutes is created to read:

SB20,2,3 950.04 (1v) (df) To privacy in his or her confidential mental health treatment records, in accordance with the procedure under s. 971.313.

SB20,2 Section 2. 971.313 of the statutes is created to read:

SB20,2,6 971.313 Obtaining victim mental health treatment records. (1) Definitions. In this section:

SB20,2,9 (a) “Crime victim” has the meaning given for “victim” in s. 950.02 (4) or a guardian ad litem appointed under sub. (3) (c) 2. if a person identified under s. 950.02 (4) (a) 2. has interests that are adverse to a child victim.

SB20,3,3 (b) “Mental health treatment records” means all records that are not in the possession of a government agency that are created in the course of providing services to individuals for mental illness, developmental disabilities, alcoholism, drug dependence, or other mental health issues and that are maintained by treatment facilities as defined in s. 51.01 (19), by psychologists licensed under s. 455.04 (1), or by licensed mental health professionals as defined in s. 51.01 (11m). “Mental health treatment records” does not include psychotherapy notes, as defined in 45 CFR 164.501, that are maintained for personal use and kept separate from other mental health treatment records.

SB20,3,6 (c) “Necessary to an articulated theory of defense” means that the evidence is necessary to a determination of guilt or innocence by tending to create reasonable doubt that would not otherwise exist.

SB20,3,12 (2) Motion for discovery of mental health treatment records. (a) Notwithstanding ss. 51.30 (4) (b) 4. and 146.82 (2) (a) 4., a defendant seeking discovery of a person's mental health treatment records shall file a confidential motion, sealed under s. 801.20, at least 60 days before trial, unless the court extends the time for filing upon a specific finding of good cause, including when there has been new discovery.

SB20,3,15 (b) In a motion under par. (a), the defendant shall submit a fact-specific good faith offer of proof and a supporting affidavit from someone with personal knowledge that demonstrates all of the following:

SB20,3,17 1. The specific information that is sought from the mental health treatment records.

SB20,3,19 2. There are mental health treatment records that are reasonably likely to contain the information sought under subd. 1.

SB20,3,21 3. The specific information sought under subd. 1. is necessary to an articulated theory of defense.

SB20,3,23 4. The mental health treatment records are the only source for the information sought under subd. 1.

SB20,3,25 5. The information sought under subd. 1. is not cumulative to evidence already available.

SB20,4,3 (c) Each of the following offers of proof, considered alone, are not sufficient to determine whether the defendant has met the burden of proof to obtain a person's mental health treatment records under par. (b):

SB20,4,4 1. The crime victim reported or failed to report a victimization.

SB20,4,6 2. The crime victim sought or received counseling or mental health treatment for a prior or current victimization.

SB20,4,8 3. The crime victim received counseling or mental health treatment to address personal or family issues.

SB20,4,10 4. The crime victim may have made an inconsistent statement about the offense.

SB20,4,13 (3) Notification required; crime victim rights. (a) The prosecuting attorney shall notify the crime victim whose mental health treatment records are being sought of all of the following:

SB20,4,15 1. A motion has been filed under sub. (2) (a) requesting his or her mental health treatment records.

SB20,4,17 2. He or she has the right to the assistance of counsel regarding the issue of access to his or her mental health treatment records.

SB20,4,19 3. He or she may consent or decline to consent to an in camera review of his or her mental health treatment records.

SB20,4,23 4. By consenting to an in camera review, he or she has not waived any privilege under s. 905.11 or 905.12 to object to redisclosure of the privileged information or the use of any privileged information in a subsequent court proceeding after the court's review and determination under sub. (4).

SB20,5,3 (b) The prosecuting attorney may respond to the motion made under sub. (2) (a) with affidavits or written arguments, which shall be filed confidentially and sealed under s. 801.20.

SB20,5,11 (c) 1. The crime victim whose mental health treatment records are being sought has the right to counsel. The crime victim may retain counsel who may intervene in this proceeding on his or her behalf. The court shall provide the crime victim reasonable time to secure counsel. The court may appoint counsel upon the victim's request regarding access to and disclosure of the privileged mental health treatment records. The counsel may file a response to the filing made under sub. (2) (a) with affidavits or written arguments, which shall be filed confidentially and sealed under s. 801.20.

SB20,5,17 2. If the victim of the crime is a child, and the court determines that a person identified under s. 950.02 (4) (a) 2. has interests that are adverse to the child, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem. The guardian ad litem shall be an advocate for the best interests of the child regarding access to and disclosure of the privileged mental health treatment records. The guardian ad litem shall function independently in the same manner as the counsel identified under subd. 1.

SB20,5,23 (4) In camera review; determination of whether disclosure is warranted. (a) If the court concludes both that the defendant has made the showing required by sub. (2) (b) and that the potential benefit to the defendant from disclosure outweighs the harm to the crime victim from disclosure, the court shall inquire as to whether the crime victim consents to an in camera review of the mental health treatment records by the court.

SB20,6,3 (b) 1. If the crime victim does not consent to an in camera review of his or her mental health treatment records by the court, the court shall follow the procedures in sub. (6) (a).

SB20,6,7 2. If the crime victim consents to an in camera review of his or her mental health treatment records by the court, the court shall examine the mental health treatment records in camera for the presence of any evidence that is necessary to an articulated theory of defense.

SB20,6,10 (c) Following an in camera review of the mental health treatment records under par. (b) 2., the court may order the disclosure of the relevant records only if the court determines one of the following:

SB20,6,13 1. The information in the mental health treatment records is necessary to an articulated theory of defense and the benefit to the defendant from disclosure outweighs the harm to the crime victim from disclosure.

SB20,6,16 2. The information in the mental health treatment records is exculpatory because it is necessary to a determination of guilt or innocence by tending to create reasonable doubt that would not otherwise exist.

SB20,7,2 (d) If the court determines under par. (c) that some or all of the mental health treatment records are eligible for disclosure, the crime victim shall have the opportunity to review the records identified for disclosure. Within 45 days from the date of the order under par. (c), the crime victim and the state shall notify the court whether the crime victim or the state intends to appeal the order pursuant to s. 974.05, and if neither the crime victim nor the state intends to appeal the order, the crime victim shall indicate whether he or she consents or declines to consent to the disclosure of the relevant records. If the crime victim or the state appeals the order under par. (c) within 45 days, the crime victim's mental health treatment records may not be disclosed until the appeal has concluded.

SB20,7,5 (e) 1. After the appeal under par. (d) has concluded, the crime victim shall indicate whether he or she consents to the disclosure of his or her mental health treatment records.

SB20,7,9 2. If the crime victim does not consent to the disclosure of the mental health treatment records under par. (d) after the appeal has concluded or after the state and the crime victim each indicate that he or she or it does not intend to appeal the order, the court shall follow the procedures in sub. (6) (b).

SB20,7,14 3. If the crime victim consents to the disclosure of the mental health treatment records after the appeal has concluded or after the state and the crime victim each indicate that he or she or it does not intend to appeal the order, the court shall order disclosure of those records to the prosecuting attorney and to the defendant's attorney in accordance with the procedures in sub. (5).

SB20,7,19 (5) Disclosure of information; dissemination prohibited. (a) If the court orders disclosure of mental health treatment records, the order may include only those mental health treatment records or portions of mental health treatment records that are necessary to an articulated theory of defense or are otherwise exculpatory.

SB20,8,4 (b) If the court orders disclosure of mental health treatment records, the court shall enter a protective order under s. 971.23 (6) that provides that any record or information provided to the prosecuting attorney and to the defendant's attorney shall be confidential and may not be redisclosed or disseminated by the prosecuting attorney or the defendant's attorney unless specifically authorized by the court. Any provided record or information in paper form shall be returned to the court at the conclusion of representation. Any provided or stored electronic record or information shall be deleted at the conclusion of the representation by the prosecuting attorney and the defendant's attorney, both of whom shall provide the court with an affidavit affirming that the records or information have been deleted.

SB20,8,6 (c) The court shall determine the admissibility of any disclosed mental health treatment records under the applicable rules of evidence.

SB20,8,8 (d) The court shall retain any mental health treatment records under seal for the applicable period of time as specified in SCR 72.01.

SB20,8,12 (6) Crime victim nonconsent; appeals of court decisions regarding mental health treatment records. (a) If the crime victim does not consent to in camera review of his or her mental health treatment records, the court shall do all of the following:

SB20,8,13 1. Abide by the declination of the crime victim.

SB20,8,14 2. Permit the crime victim to testify at the trial.

SB20,8,16 3. If the case is tried by a jury, inform the jury immediately following the testimony of the crime victim and before jury deliberations of all of the following:

SB20,8,18 a. The defendant filed a motion for discovery of mental health treatment records that met the requirements for an in camera review.

SB20,8,20 b. The crime victim declined to disclose mental health treatment records for inspection by the court.

SB20,8,22 c. The crime victim has the right to decline an in camera review of the mental health treatment records.

SB20,8,25 4. Notwithstanding any prohibition under s. 905.11 to 905.13, permit comment on the declination by the crime victim and allow the defendant to draw any reasonable inference therefrom.

SB20,9,4 (b) If the crime victim does not consent to disclosure of his or her mental health treatment records following an in camera review, the court shall prohibit the crime victim from testifying at the trial and the court may not order disclosure of the crime victim's mental health treatment records.

SB20,9,7 (c) Any of the following orders of the court may be appealed to the court of appeals as a matter of right by the state under s. 974.05 or by the crime victim in the manner under s. 974.05:

SB20,9,10 1. The order of the court determining that the defendant has met his or her burden of proof under sub. (2) (b), triggering an in camera review of mental health treatment records.

SB20,9,12 2. The order of the court determining that the mental health treatment records should be disclosed under sub. (4) (c).

SB20,9,17 (7) Privilege. The consent of a crime victim to review of mental health treatment records under sub. (4) (a) or disclosure of mental health treatment records under sub. (4) (d) does not waive any privilege under s. 905.11 or 905.12. A crime victim may still claim any applicable privilege for confidential communications or for information reviewed or disclosed under this section.

SB20,9,23 (8) Psychotherapy notes. Except for uses or disclosures described in 45 CFR 164.508 (a) (2) (i) and (ii), a defendant may not obtain and a court may not order disclosure of psychotherapy notes, as defined in 45 CFR 164.501, that are maintained for personal use and kept separate from other mental health treatment records unless the crime victim voluntarily provides an authorization in accordance with 45 CFR 164.508 to disclose psychotherapy notes.

SB20,3 Section 3 . 974.05 (1) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

SB20,10,1 974.05 (1) (e) Order granting relief under s. 971.313 (6) (c) 1. or 2.

SB20,10,2 (End)