Creating a privilege for communications to veteran mentors

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

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.

Who's behind it

2 senators are its authors⁠. All 2 are Democrats.

6 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

• Amendment SSA1-SB617