An Act To Enhance the Protection of Social Service Home Visitors
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1857
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: EVES
Amends: 17-A MRSA §207, 17-A MRSA §208, 17-A MRSA §208-B, 32 MRSA §7006

Legislative Document 
No. 1857 
H.P. 1375 
House of Representatives, March 12, 2012 
An Act To Enhance the Protection of Social Service Home Visitors 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative EVES of North Berwick. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  17-A MRSA §207, sub-§1, ¶¶A and B, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 383, 
§10 and affected by §156, are amended to read: 
A.  The person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury or 
offensive physical contact to another person.  Violation of this paragraph is a Class D 
crime; or 
B.  The person has attained at least 18 years of age and intentionally, knowingly or 
recklessly causes bodily injury to another person who is less than 6 years of age.  
Violation of this paragraph is a Class C crime.; or 
Sec. 2.  17-A MRSA §207, sub-§1, ¶C is enacted to read: 
C.  The person violates paragraph A and at the time of the crime the other person is: 
(1)  Licensed as a social worker; 
(2)  Acting within the scope of the person's employment as a social worker; and 
(3)  On the premises of a dwelling place occupied by the actor. 
Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime for which the court shall impose, in 
addition to any sentencing alternative required pursuant to subsection 3, a sentencing 
alternative involving a term of imprisonment of at least 30 days, none of which may 
be suspended. 
Sec. 3.  17-A MRSA §208, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
3.  A person is guilty of aggravated assault if that person violates subsection 1 and at 
the time of the crime the victim of the crime is: 
A.  Licensed as a social worker; 
B.  Acting within the scope of the person's employment as a social worker; and  
C.  On the premises of a dwelling place occupied by the actor. 
Violation of this subsection is a Class B crime for which the court shall impose a 
sentencing alternative involving a term of imprisonment of at least 2 years, none of which 
may be suspended. 
Sec. 4.  17-A MRSA §208-B, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
3.  A person is guilty of elevated aggravated assault if that person violates subsection 
and at the time of the crime the victim of the crime is: 
A.  Licensed as a social worker; 
B.  Acting within the scope of the person's employment as a social worker; and 
C.  On the premises of a dwelling place occupied by the actor. 
Violation of this subsection is a Class A crime for which the court shall impose a 
sentencing alternative involving a term of imprisonment of at least 3 years, none of which 
may be suspended. 
Sec. 5.  32 MRSA §7006 is enacted to read: 
§7006.  Law enforcement escort for social worker 
A person licensed under this chapter may request and an appropriate law enforcement 
agency shall provide that the person be accompanied by a law enforcement officer on a 
visit to a dwelling place occupied by a client of that person if that person is sufficiently 
concerned for that person's safety. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides mandatory minimum sentences for a person convicted of assault, 
aggravated assault or elevated aggravated assault against a social worker who is visiting 
that person at that person's home.  It also requires a law enforcement agency to provide a 
law enforcement officer to accompany a social worker on a home visit to a client at the 
request of that social worker if the social worker is sufficiently concerned for the social 
worker's safety.