An Act To Protect Victims of Human Trafficking
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1531
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: VOLK, HOBBINS, BURNS, LANGLEY, DAUGHTRY, WARREN
Amends: 5 MRSA §4651, 19-A MRSA §4005

Legislative Document 
No. 1531 
S.P. 593 
In Senate, January 6, 2016 
An Act To Protect Victims of Human Trafficking 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator VOLK of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative HOBBINS of Saco and 
Senators: BURNS of Washington, LANGLEY of Hancock, Representatives: DAUGHTRY of 
Brunswick, WARREN of Hallowell. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §4651, sub-§2, ¶C, as amended by PL 2001, c. 134, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
C.    A single act or course of conduct constituting a violation of section 4681; Title 
17, section 2931; or Title 17-A, sections section 201, 202, 203, 204, 207, 208, 209, 
210, 210-A, 211, 253, 301, 302, 303, 506-A, 511, 556, 802, 805 or, 806 or 852. 
Sec. 2.  19-A MRSA §4005, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2015, c. 339, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Filing. An adult who has been abused by a family or household member or a 
dating partner may seek relief by filing a complaint alleging that abuse. 
When a minor child in the care or custody of a family or household member or a dating 
partner has been abused by a family or household member or a dating partner, a person 
responsible for the child, as defined in Title 22, section 4002, subsection 9, or a 
representative of the department may seek relief by filing a petition alleging that abuse. 
An adult who has been a victim of conduct defined as stalking in Title 17-A, section 
210-A or described as sexual assault in Title 17-A, chapter 11 or described as 
unauthorized dissemination of certain private images in Title 17-A, section 511-A or a 
victim of aggravated sex trafficking as described in Title 17-A, section 852, whether or 
not the conduct was perpetrated by a family or household member or dating partner, may 
seek relief by filing a complaint alleging that conduct without regard to whether criminal 
prosecution has occurred.  When a minor has been a victim of such conduct, the minor's 
parent, other person responsible for the child or a representative of the department may 
seek relief by filing a petition alleging that conduct. 
When an adult who is 60 years of age or older or a dependent adult, as defined in Title 
22, section 3472, subsection 6, or an incapacitated adult, as defined in Title 22, section 
3472, subsection 10, has been the victim of abuse as defined in section 4002, subsection 1 
or Title 22, section 3472, subsection 1 by an extended family member or an unpaid care 
provider, the adult victim, the adult victim's legal guardian or a representative of the 
department may seek relief by filing a complaint alleging the abusive conduct.  For the 
purposes of this subsection, "extended family member" includes, but is not limited to: a 
person who is related to the victim by blood, marriage or adoption, whether or not the 
person resides or has ever resided with the victim.  "Unpaid care provider" includes, but 
is not limited to, a caretaker who voluntarily provides full, intermittent or occasional 
personal care to the adult victim in the victim's home similar to the way a family member 
would provide personal care. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides that victims of aggravated sex trafficking are eligible to file for 
protection from abuse orders and protection from harassment orders.