Rights for Victims of Certain Crimes

     For purposes of the 'Victim Rights Act', the act prohibits a defendant or alleged offender in the underlying case from being the 'lawful representative' of a victim or the victim's designee if the victim is a child or an at-risk adult.

     The act creates new rights for a victim under the 'Victim Rights Act', including the right to:

• Be notified by the district attorney if the district attorney receives a notice that a crime laboratory employee engaged in a wrongful action that includes a crime against the victim and a notice that an evidentiary hearing on post-conviction petition for relief is held;
• Request to be referred to by an abbreviation, pseudonym, initials, or another preferred name during hearings; and
• Be heard at a restitution assessment hearing.
  
  (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)