Senate Bill 15 aims to enhance protections and penalties for adults at risk, particularly in cases of sexual assault, physical abuse, and financial exploitation. The bill reclassifies acts of sexual misconduct against adults at risk from a Class C felony to a Class B felony, regardless of the perpetrator's knowledge of the victim's status. It also extends the existing legal framework for freezing assets in cases of financial exploitation to include adults at risk, ensuring that courts can preserve assets for potential restitution. Additionally, the bill aligns penalties for physical abuse of adults at risk with those currently applied to elder persons, allowing for increased prison terms based on the victim's status.

The legislation introduces provisions that allow adults at risk to participate in court hearings via telephone or audiovisual means when seeking restraining orders, thereby improving access to justice. It also establishes a definition for "adult at risk" and modifies existing statutes to reflect these changes, including increased penalties for crimes against this demographic. The bill emphasizes that the lack of knowledge regarding a victim's status as an adult at risk does not serve as a defense against enhanced penalties, thereby reinforcing the legal protections for vulnerable individuals.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 343.12(7)(c)9j, 343.12, 813.12(5b), 813.12, 813.123(6g), 813.123, 813.125(5b), 813.125, 911.01(4)(c), 911.01, 939.623(title), 939.623, 939.623(2)(intro.), 939.623(3), 940.198(title), 940.198, 940.198(1)(b), 940.198(2)(a), 940.198(2)(b)