FROM STAFF REPORTS

A bill sponsored by State Rep. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) got final approval just minutes before the close of the recent legislative session, reaching the governor&8217;s office at 11:59 p.m. last Thursday.

House bill 391 and Senate bill 265, drafted by Attorney General Troy King, allow children in abuse cases to testify by closed circuit television.

Under the new law, a child victim will be able to testify by closed-circuit television from a separate and secure location, rather than having to testify in the same room with a defendant.

The new procedure replaces the current practice of taking a child&8217;s testimony in a judge&8217;s chambers