H.P. 1412 - L.D. 2019
An Act to Remove the Statute of Limitations for Unlawful Sexual Contact and Sexual Abuse of Minors
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §8, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1991, c. 585, §1, is further amended to read:
1. It is a defense that prosecution was commenced after the expiration of the applicable period of limitations provided in this section; provided that a prosecution for murder or criminal homicide in the first or 2nd degree, or, if the victim had not attained the age of 16 years at the time of the crime, a prosecution for: incest,; unlawful sexual contact; sexual abuse of a minor; rape or gross sexual assault, formerly denominated as gross sexual misconduct, may be commenced at any time.
Sec. 2. 17-A MRSA §8, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1991, c. 585, §2, is further amended to read:
2. Prosecutions for crimes other than murder or criminal homicide in the first or 2nd degree, or, if the victim had not attained the age of 16 years at the time of the crime, prosecutions for: incest,; unlawful sexual contact; sexual abuse of a minor; rape or gross sexual assault, formerly denominated as gross sexual misconduct, are subject to the following periods of limitations:
A. A prosecution for a Class A, Class B or Class C crime must be commenced within 6 years after it is committed; and
B. A prosecution for a Class D or Class E crime must be commenced within 3 years after it is committed.
Sec. 3. Application. This Act applies to the following crimes in which the victim has not attained 16 years of age at the time of the crime:
1. Unlawful sexual contact and sexual abuse of a minor committed on or after the effective date of this Act; and
2. Unlawful sexual contact and sexual abuse of a minor for which the prosecution has not yet been barred by the previous statute of limitations in force on the effective date of this Act.
Effective September 18, 1999, unless otherwise indicated.
| Revisor of Statutes Homepage | Subject Index | Search | Laws of Maine | Maine Legislature |
