Raised Bill No. 247, introduced to the General Assembly, aims to amend Section 54-193 of the general statutes by changing the statute of limitations for crimes committed against the elderly. The bill proposes that there be no time limit for prosecuting certain serious offenses, including capital felonies, class A felonies, and offenses involving sexual abuse of a minor. It also extends the time limit for prosecuting class B, C, and D felonies involving sexual abuse, exploitation, or assault, with the time frame varying based on the age of the victim at the time of the offense. Additionally, the bill specifies that no person may be prosecuted for a class A misdemeanor involving sexual abuse if the victim was 21 years of age or older, except within ten years after the offense.

The bill introduces a new subsection (c), which sets a five-year statute of limitations for prosecuting offenses against elderly persons, starting from the discovery of the offense during an investigation of exploitation of the elderly person or the death of the elderly person, whichever is sooner. The definitions of "elderly" and "exploitation" are to align with those provided in section 17b-450. The bill also renumbers subsequent subsections accordingly and clarifies that if a person has fled the state, prosecution may occur within the specified period upon their return to the state. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2024, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date, as well as offenses committed prior to that date if the statute of limitations had not expired by October 1, 2024. The purpose of the bill is to extend the statute of limitations for the prosecution of crimes committed against the elderly.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 54-193