130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 813 LR 932(02)
An Act To Increase the Penalty for Engaging in the Sex Trafficking of Children
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Judiciary
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements
Elevates Class B crimes to Class A; increases correctional and judicial costs.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The bill elevates from a Class B to a Class A the crime of aggravated sex trafficking if the person being trafficked is 14 years of age or younger. Class B crimes are punishable by up to 10 years incarceration while Class A crimes are punishable by up to 30 years incarceration. For each year an individual will now be incarcerated for this crime that they would not have been under current law, costs will increase to the Department of Corrections by $55,203, which is the current average cost of incarcerating an individual for a single year. Assuming the maximum difference in sentences of 20 years, this would represent an additional $1,104,060.