AB 810

Under current law, a communication between certain persons, such as between

spouses, between a lawyer and client, and between a patient and a physician, is

considered privileged and may not be disclosed without permission of the person who

made the communication. The spouse, client, or patient may prevent the disclosure

of the privileged communication, with certain exceptions.

This bill creates a privilege against disclosure of a communication made

between a veteran or a member of the armed forces or national guard and a veteran

mentor. A veteran mentor is a veteran who is authorized by a circuit court judge to

provide assistance and advice to a veteran or a member of the armed forces or

national guard regarding court-related matters. To be a veteran mentor, the person

must have completed a judicially approved veterans mentoring training program

and completed a background information form approved by a circuit court. The

privilege does not apply to communications that the veteran has agreed in writing

to allow to be disclosed as a condition of his or her participation in the veterans

mentoring program.