HI HB1326

Creates a narrow hearsay exception allowing statements made by domestic violence victims during their first interaction with responding law enforcement officers and before defendant arrest to be admitted as evidence, regardless of the victim's availability to testify.

Requires victim statements to have "sufficient indicia of reliability" as determined by the trial judge, considering the victim's personal knowledge, corroboration by other evidence, timing of the statement, and whether leading questions were used.

Specifies that statements are inadmissible if their primary purpose was producing trial evidence rather than enabling assistance to meet an ongoing emergency.

Provides that victim recantation alone is insufficient reason to deny admission of a statement absent other factors indicating unreliability.

Takes effect upon approval and does not affect rights, duties, or proceedings that began before the effective date.