Amend the bill in Part C in section 1 in paragraph A in the 3rd line (page 14, line 9 in L.D.) by striking out the following: " business" and inserting the following: ' personal' and in the last line (page 14, line 10 in L.D.) by striking out the following: " business" and inserting the following: ' personal'

Amend the bill in Part C in section 3 in subsection 1 in paragraph B in the 2nd line (page 14, line 19 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: " paragraph C" the following: ' or is not related to an allegation of domestic violence, violence against a dating partner, sexual assault or stalking'

Amend the bill in Part C in section 4 in paragraph A in subparagraph (2-A) in the 2nd line (page 14, line 36 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: " paragraph C" the following: ' or is not related to an allegation of domestic violence, violence against a dating partner, sexual assault or stalking'

summary

The bill amends the definition of "harassment" in the protection from harassment laws to limit qualifying damage to property to damage to business property. This amendment removes that limitation and amends the definition to include damage to personal property only.

The bill requires that, except in a narrow category of situations, a person seeking a protection from harassment order must first seek a cease harassment notice under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, section 506-A. This amendment expands that list of situations in which a notice under Title 17-A, section 506-A is not required to include cases related to allegations of domestic violence, violence against a dating partner, sexual assault and stalking. These are facts already identified by the court as important in hearing complaints seeking protection from harassment orders.