| 1 | 1 | | |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | 2023 -- S 0402 |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | ======== |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | LC001483 |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | ======== |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023 |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | ____________ |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | A N A C T |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- CRIMINAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | Introduced By: Senator Melissa A. Murray |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | Date Introduced: February 16, 2023 |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | Referred To: Senate Judiciary |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 11-34.1 of the General Laws entitled "Commercial Sexual Activity" 1 |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 2 |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | 11-34.1-6.1. Immunity from criminal prosecution. 3 |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | In the event a person is the victim of or a witness to a crime, including an individual who 4 |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | becomes aware that another person is a victim of a crime, and has engaged or is alleged to have 5 |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | engaged in an act prohibited pursuant to §§ 11-34.1-2, 11-34.1-3, 11-34.1-4, or 11-34.1-6, or in 6 |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | reasonable proximity to the time of the crime or under circumstances reasonably related to the 7 |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | crime, that person shall not be charged with a violation of §§ 11-34.1-2 through 11-34.1-4 or 11-8 |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | 34.1-6 if that person, in good faith, reports the crime to a criminal law enforcement agency, seeks 9 |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | or receives health care services as a result of the crime, or assists or attempts to assist in the 10 |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | investigation or prosecution of the crime. If the victim or witness later withdraws cooperation due 11 |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | to safety concerns, physical or emotional health, or any other reason, the victim or witness shall not 12 |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | be charged under those sections. As used in this section, "crime" shall include an act that reasonably 13 |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | appears to be a crime, regardless of whether it results in conviction. 14 |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 15 |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | ======== |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | LC001483 |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | ======== |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | LC001483 - Page 2 of 2 |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | EXPLANATION |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | OF |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | A N A C T |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- CRIMINAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | *** |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | This act would grant immunity to people engaged in commercial sexual activity if they 1 |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | report to law enforcement that they are victims of or witnesses to a crime. This act would ensure 2 |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | that they feel safe in coming forward to report crimes and are able to report exploitation or violence 3 |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | committed against others. 4 |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | This act would take effect upon passage. 5 |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | ======== |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | LC001483 |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | ======== |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | |
|---|