Guam - Bill 409 was among several bills that went up for a public hearing this morning before the Committee on Public Safety. The legislation was introduced by Minority Leader Frank Blas, Jr. The Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2012 recognizes a child in utero as a legal victim.  It imposes harsher penalties for anyone who harms a woman who is pregnant and the unborn child.

Although the legislation received favorable testimony, on behalf of the Attorney General's Office, Chief Prosecutor Phil Tydingco said the bill needed revisions as it was inconsistent with our criminal codes. He said, "As drafted it would not be enforceable with the current language it appears that it was just adopted from another jurisdiction, there are a lot of major inconsistencies with our current statutes and in the way its crafted it current language."

A meeting with the AG's Office and the Legislature will be held in the next couple weeks to markup the legislation, so that it is enforceble.