An Act To Ensure That Assemblies, Protests and Demonstrations in Maine Remain Peaceful
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1016
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Sponsors: ANDREWS
Amends: 17-A MRSA §2, 17-A MRSA §213

Legislative Document
No. 1016
H.P. 754
House of Representatives, March 10, 2021
An Act To Ensure That Assemblies, Protests and Demonstrations in 
Maine Remain Peaceful
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative ANDREWS of Paris.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day 
period in order to preserve the public peace, health and safety by ensuring that assemblies, 
protests, and demonstrations in this State remain peaceful; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  17-A MRSA §2, sub-§25, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 634, §2, is amended 
to read:
25.   "Terroristic intent" means the intent to do any of the following for the purpose of 
intimidating or coercing a civilian population or to affect the conduct of government:
A.  Cause serious bodily injury or death to multiple persons;
B.  Cause substantial damage to multiple structures; or
C.  Cause substantial damage to critical infrastructure.; 
D.  Destroy public property or works of art, including but not limited to statuary;
E.  Destroy business infrastructure or commit theft in connection with the destruction 
of business infrastructure;
F.  Use fire, fireworks, combustible materials, body fluids, frozen liquids, bottles, 
bricks, rocks or other objects that, in the manner they are used or threatened to be used 
are capable of producing death or serious bodily injury;
G.  Start a fire on the property of another during a public protest, demonstration or 
assembly; or
H.  Assault a law enforcement officer or public servant during a public protest, 
demonstration or assembly.
Sec. 2.  17-A MRSA §213, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 634, §4, is amended 
to read:
1.   A person is guilty of aggravated reckless conduct if the person with terroristic intent 
engages in conduct that in fact creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to another 
person or engages in the willful destruction of public or private property.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the definition of "terroristic intent" in the Maine Criminal Code to 
include the intent to do any of the following for the purpose of intimidating or coercing a 
civilian population or to affect the conduct of government:
1.  Destroy public property or works of art, including but not limited to statuary;
2.  Destroy business infrastructure or commit theft in connection with the destruction 
of business infrastructure;
3.  Use fire, fireworks, combustible materials, body fluids, frozen liquids, bottles, 
bricks, rocks or other objects that, in the manner they are used or threatened to be used 
are capable of producing death or serious bodily injury;
4.  Start a fire on the property of another during a public protest, demonstration or 
assembly; or
5.  Assault a law enforcement officer or public servant during a public protest, 
demonstration or assembly.
The bill also provides that a person is guilty of the Class B crime of aggravated reckless 
conduct if the person with terroristic intent engages in the willful destruction of public or 
private property.