An Act Regarding the Maine Criminal Code
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0044
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Amends: 17-A MRSA §554, 17-A MRSA §253, 15 MRSA §393, 15 MRSA §1026, 17-A MRSA §1203, 17-A MRSA §1203-C, 17-A MRSA §1206, 17-A MRSA §1209

Legislative Document
No. 44
H.P. 45
House of Representatives, January 9, 2019
An Act Regarding the Maine Criminal Code
Reported by Representative WARREN of Hallowell for the Criminal Law Advisory 
Commission pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, section 1354, subsection 2.
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed pursuant to Joint Rule 218.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
PART A
Sec. A-1.  17-A MRSA §554, sub-§1, ¶¶B-3 and C, as amended by PL 2015, c. 
358, §3, are further amended to read:
B-3.  Being the parent, foster parent, guardian or other person having the care and 
custody of a child, knowingly deprives the child of necessary health care, with a 
result that the child is placed in danger of serious harm.  Violation of this paragraph is 
a Class D crime; or
C.  Otherwise recklessly endangers Endangers the health, safety or welfare of the 
child by recklessly violating a duty of care or protection.  Violation of this paragraph 
is a Class D crime.; or
Sec. A-2.  17-A MRSA §554, sub-§1, ¶D is enacted to read:
D.  Endangers the health, safety or welfare of a child by recklessly violating a duty of 
care or protection resulting in death or serious bodily injury to the child.  Violation of 
this paragraph is a Class C crime.
PART B
Sec. B-1.  17-A MRSA §253, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2003, c. 711, Pt. B, 
§2, is further amended to read:
B.  The other person, not the actor's spouse, has not in fact attained the age of 14 
years and the actor is at least 3 years older.  Violation of this paragraph is a Class A 
crime; or
Sec. B-2.  17-A MRSA §253, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 711, Pt. B, 
§2, is amended to read:
C.  The other person, not the actor's spouse, has not in fact attained 12 years of age 
and the actor is at least 3 years older.  Violation of this paragraph is a Class A crime.
PART C
Sec. C-1.  15 MRSA §393, sub-§1, ¶A-1, as amended by PL 2015, c. 470, §1, is 
further amended to read:
A-1.  Has been convicted of committing or found not criminally responsible by 
reason of insanity of committing:
(1)  A crime in this State that is punishable by imprisonment for a term of one 
year or more;
(2)  A crime under the laws of the United States that is punishable by 
imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;
(3)  A crime under the laws of any other state another jurisdiction that, in 
accordance with the laws of that jurisdiction, is punishable by a term of 
imprisonment exceeding one year.  This subparagraph does not include a crime 
under the laws of another state jurisdiction that is classified by the laws of that 
state jurisdiction as a misdemeanor and is punishable by a term of imprisonment 
of 2 years or less;
(4)  A crime under the laws of any other state another jurisdiction that, in 
accordance with the laws of that jurisdiction, does not come within subparagraph 
(3) but is elementally substantially similar to a crime in this State that is 
punishable by a term of imprisonment for one year or more; or
(5)  A crime under the laws of the United States, this State or any other state or 
the Passamaquoddy Tribe or Penobscot Nation another jurisdiction in a 
proceeding in which the prosecuting authority was required to plead and prove 
that the person committed the crime with the use of:
(a)  A firearm against a person; or
(b)  Any other dangerous weapon.
Violation of this paragraph is a Class C crime;
Sec. C-2.  15 MRSA §393, sub-§1, ¶¶C and D, as amended by PL 2015, c. 470, 
§1, are further amended to read:
C.  Has been adjudicated in this State or under the laws of the United States or any 
other state another jurisdiction to have engaged in conduct as a juvenile that, if 
committed by an adult, would have been a disqualifying conviction:
(1)  Under paragraph A-1, subparagraphs (1) to (4) and bodily injury to another 
person was threatened or resulted; or
(3)  Under paragraph A-1, subparagraph (5).
Violation of this paragraph is a Class C crime;
D.  Is subject to an order of a court of the United States or a state, territory, 
commonwealth another jurisdiction or a tribe that restrains that person from 
harassing, stalking or threatening an intimate partner, as defined in 18 United States 
Code, Section 921(a), of that person or a child of the intimate partner of that person, 
or from engaging in other conduct that would place the intimate partner in reasonable 
fear of bodily injury to the intimate partner or the child, except that this paragraph 
applies only to a court order that was issued after a hearing for which that person 
received actual notice and at which that person had the opportunity to participate and 
that:
(1)  Includes a finding that the person represents a credible threat to the physical 
safety of an intimate partner or a child; or
(2)  By its terms, explicitly prohibits the use, attempted use or threatened use of 
physical force against an intimate partner or a child that would reasonably be 
expected to cause bodily injury.
Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime;
Sec. C-3.  15 MRSA §393, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 2015, c. 470, §2, is 
further amended to read:
1-A.  Limited prohibition for nonviolent juvenile offenses.  A person who has been 
adjudicated in this State or under the laws of the United States or any other state another 
jurisdiction to have engaged in conduct as a juvenile that, if committed by an adult, 
would have been a disqualifying conviction under subsection 1, paragraph A-1 or 
subsection 1-B, paragraph A but is not an adjudication under subsection 1, paragraph C or 
an adjudication under subsection 1-B, paragraph B in which bodily injury to another 
person was threatened or resulted may not own or have in that person's possession or 
control a firearm for a period of 3 years following completion of any disposition imposed 
or until that person reaches 18 years of age, whichever is later.  Violation of this 
subsection by a person at least 18 years of age is a Class C crime.
Sec. C-4.  15 MRSA §393, sub-§1-B, ¶¶A and B, as amended by PL 2015, c. 
470, §3, are further amended to read:
A.  Has been convicted of committing or found not criminally responsible by reason 
of insanity of committing:
(1)  A Class D crime in this State in violation of Title 17-A, section 207-A, 
209-A, 210-B, 210-C or 211-A; or
(2)  A crime under the laws of the United States or any other state another 
jurisdiction that in accordance with the laws of that jurisdiction is elementally 
substantially similar to a crime in subparagraph (1).
Violation of this paragraph is a Class C crime; or
B.  Has been adjudicated in this State or under the laws of the United States or any 
other state another jurisdiction to have engaged in conduct as a juvenile that, if 
committed by an adult, would have been a disqualifying conviction under this 
subsection.  Violation of this paragraph is a Class C crime.
Sec. C-5.  15 MRSA §393, sub-§7, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 549, §4, is 
repealed.
Sec. C-6.  15 MRSA §393, sub-§7, ¶F is enacted to read:
F.  "Another jurisdiction" has the same meaning as in Title 17-A, section 2, 
subsection 3-B.
PART D
Sec. D-1.  15 MRSA §1026, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2007, c. 374, §10, is 
further amended to read:
5.  Contents of release order.  In a release order issued under subsection 2-A or 3, 
the judicial officer shall:
A.  Include a written statement that sets forth all the conditions to which the release 
defendant is subject in a manner sufficiently clear and specific to serve as a guide for 
the defendant's conduct; and
B.  Advise the defendant of:
(1)  The penalties if the defendant fails to appear as required That the conditions 
of release take effect and are fully enforceable immediately as of the time the 
judicial officer sets the conditions, unless the bail order expressly excludes a 
condition or conditions of release from immediate applicability; and
(2)  The penalties for and consequences of violating a condition of release, 
including the immediate issuance of a warrant for the defendant's arrest That 
failure to appear or comply with a condition or conditions may subject the 
defendant to revocation of bail and additional criminal penalties.
Sec. D-2.  15 MRSA §1026, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 356, §5, is 
repealed.
Sec. D-3.  15 MRSA §1026, sub-§8 is enacted to read:
8.  Applicability of conditions of release.  A condition of release takes effect and is 
fully enforceable immediately as of the time the judicial officer sets the condition, unless 
the bail order expressly excludes a condition of release from immediate applicability, if 
the defendant is advised:
A.  Of the conditions; and
B.  That failure to appear or comply with the conditions may subject the defendant to 
revocation of bail and additional criminal penalties.
PART E
Sec. E-1.  17-A MRSA §1203, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 2017, c. 128, §4, is 
further amended to read:
1-A.  The court may sentence a person to a term of imprisonment, not to exceed the 
maximum term authorized for the crime, an initial portion of which must be served and 
the remainder of which must be suspended.  The period of probation commences on the 
date the person is released from the initial unsuspended portion of the term of 
imprisonment, unless the court orders it to commence on an earlier date.  If the period of 
probation commences on the date the person is released from the initial unsuspended 
portion of the term of imprisonment, that day is counted as the first full day of the period 
of probation.
A.  If the period of probation commences upon release of the person from the initial 
unsuspended portion of the term of imprisonment, the court may revoke probation for 
any criminal conduct committed during that initial period of imprisonment.
B.  The court may revoke probation if, during the initial unsuspended portion of the 
term of imprisonment, a person sentenced as a repeat sexual assault offender, 
pursuant to section 1252, subsection 4-B, refuses to actively participate in a sex 
offender treatment program in accordance with the expectations and judgment of the 
treatment providers, when requested to do so by the Department of Corrections.
B-1.  The court may revoke probation if, during an unsuspended portion of the term 
of imprisonment:
(1)  The person has contact with a victim with whom the person has been ordered 
not to have contact as a condition of probation;
(2)  In the case of a person who has been committed to the Department of 
Corrections, the person has contact with any victim with whom the person has 
been prohibited to have contact by the Department of Corrections; or
(3)  In the case of a person who has been committed to a county or regional jail, 
the person has contact with any victim with whom the person has been prohibited 
to have contact by the county or regional jail.
"Victim," as used in this paragraph, has the same meaning as in section 1171, 
subsection 2 and section 1175.
C.  As to both the suspended and unsuspended portions of the sentence, the place of 
imprisonment must be as follows.
(1)  For a Class D or Class E crime the court must specify a county jail as the 
place of imprisonment.
(2)  For a Class A, Class B or Class C crime the court must:
(a)  Specify a county jail as the place of imprisonment for any portion of the 
sentence that is 9 months or less; and
(b)  Commit the person to the Department of Corrections for any portion of 
the sentence that is more than 9 months.
D.  If execution of the sentence is stayed, the court may revoke probation for criminal 
conduct committed during the period of stay or for failure to report as ordered.
Sec. E-2.  17-A MRSA §1203-C, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 24, §4, is 
amended to read:
The court may sentence a person to a term of imprisonment not to exceed the 
maximum term authorized for the crime, suspend the entire term of imprisonment and 
accompany the suspension with a period of probation not to exceed the maximum period 
authorized for the crime, to commence on the date the person goes into actual execution 
of the sentence.  That day is counted as the first full day of the period of probation.
Sec. E-3.  17-A MRSA §1206, sub-§7-C, as amended by PL 2005, c. 507, §14, is 
further amended to read:
7-C.  The running of the period of probation is tolled upon either the delivery of the 
summons, the filing of the written notice with the court that the person can not be located 
or the arrest of the person.  If the court finds a violation of probation, the day upon which 
the tolling occurs does not count toward the period of probation.  If the motion is 
dismissed or withdrawn, or if the court finds no violation of probation, the running of the 
period of probation is deemed not to have been tolled.  The conditions of probation 
continue in effect during the tolling of the running of the period of probation, and any 
violation of a condition subjects the person to a revocation of probation pursuant to the 
provisions of this chapter.
Sec. E-4.  17-A MRSA §1209 is enacted to read:
§1209.  Completion of period of probation
A period of probation is completed when the last day of the period, excluding any 
days during which the running of the period of probation is tolled, ends.
SUMMARY
This bill contains the following provisions.
1.  In Part A it amends the crime of endangering the welfare of a child by enacting in 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, section 554, subsection 1, paragraph D a new 
Class C crime for the reckless violation of a duty of care or protection that results in death 
or serious bodily injury to the child.  It amends the crime of endangering the welfare of a 
child under Title 17-A, section 554, subsection 1, paragraph C to cover recklessly 
violating a duty of care or protection.
2.  In Part B it amends the crime of gross sexual assault against a person under 12 
years of age or under 14 years of age, both of which are Class A crimes, by requiring that 
the actor be at least 3 years older than the other person.
3.  In Part C it amends Title 15, section 393 to recognize that convictions in the tribal 
courts of the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Penobscot Nation are disqualifying domestic 
violence convictions for the purposes of the prohibition against firearms created by Title 
15, section 393, subsection 1-B.  It makes Title 15, section 393 more consistent with the 
Maine Criminal Code by using the phrase "another jurisdiction" to reference the courts 
defined by that term.
4.  In Part D, in response to State v. LeBlanc-Simpson, 2018 ME 109, it clarifies that 
a judicial officer in issuing a written release order under Title 15, section 1026, 
subsection 2-A or 3 must inform a defendant of the conditions of release, that the 
conditions take effect and are fully enforceable immediately and that failure to appear or 
comply with conditions may result in revocation of bail and additional criminal penalties.  
The bill provides that a condition of release takes effect and is fully enforceable 
immediately as of the time the judicial officer sets the condition, unless the bail order 
expressly excludes a condition of release from immediate applicability, if the defendant is 
advised of the conditions and that failure to appear or comply with the conditions may 
subject the defendant to revocation of bail and additional criminal penalties.
5.  In Part E it amends the probation statutes to reflect the current practice of the 
Department of Corrections with respect to calculating the period of probation.  A 
probationer receives credit for a full day of probation on the day probation commences, 
regardless of the time of day, and receives no credit for a day on which probation is 
tolled.  The period of probation ends when the final day of the probation period ends.