Parent-Child Privilege Act of 1998

Summary

Parent-Child Privilege Act of 1998 - Amends the Federal Rules of Evidence to provide that, in a civil or criminal proceeding, a parent shall not be compelled to testify against his or her child, and a child shall not be compelled to testify against his or her parent, unless the parent or child who is the witness voluntarily and knowingly waives the privilege to refrain from giving such adverse testimony. Provides that a parent shall not be compelled to divulge any confidential communication with his or her child during the course of their parent-child relationship, and a child shall not be compelled to divulge any confidential communication with his or her parent during the course of such relationship, unless both the child and the parent or parents who are privy to the confidential communication voluntarily and knowingly waive the privilege against the disclosure of the communication. Makes the privilege applicable even if, at the time of the proceeding, the parent or child who made or received the confidential communication is deceased or the parent-child relationship has terminated. Sets forth exceptions to the privilege, such as in civil actions by the child against the parent, or by the parent against the child, or in any action in which the custody, abuse, or neglect of the child, or the termination of parental rights with respect to the child, is at issue. Authorizes the court to appoint a guardian, attorney, or other legal representative to represent the child's interests with respect to the privilege when a child who appears to be the subject of the privilege is below the age of majority at the time of the proceeding.

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Timeline

1. 21 July 1998

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 21 July 1998

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 21 July 1998

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 31 July 1998

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 21 July 1998 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 21 July 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 21 July 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 21 July 1998

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Andrews, Robert E. [D-NJ-1] · D · Sponsor
• · hsju00 · Standing

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.