Sec. 1. 16 MRSA §53-C is enacted to read:

§53-C.__Privileged communications to governmental victim witness

advocates or coordinators

1.__Definitions.__As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A.__"Crime" means a criminal offense in which there is a victim, as defined in this section.

B.__"Victim" means:

(1)__A person against whom a crime has been committed;

(2)__The immediate family of a victim of a crime if:

(a)__The underlying crime is one of domestic violence or sexual assault or one in which the family suffered serious physical trauma or serious financial loss; or

(b)__Due to death, age or physical or mental disease, disorder or defect, the victim is unable to participate as allowed under this chapter.

C.__"Victim witness advocate" or "victim witness coordinator" means an employee of or volunteer for a district attorney, the Attorney General or the United States Attorney whose primary job function is to advise, counsel or assist victims or witnesses of crimes, to supervise other employees or volunteers who perform that function or to administer the program.

2.__Privileged communications.__Communications are privileged from disclosure as follows.

A.__A victim may refuse to disclose and may deny permission to a victim witness advocate or coordinator to disclose confidential written or oral communications between the victim and the advocate or coordinator and written records, notes, memoranda or reports concerning the victim.

B.__Except as provided in subsection 3, a victim, advocate or coordinator or the victim advocate's or coordinator's employer may not be required, through oral or written