Assembly Bill 19 aims to enhance protections and penalties for crimes against adults at risk in Wisconsin. The bill reclassifies acts of sexual misconduct against adults at risk from a second-degree to a first-degree sexual assault, increasing the penalty from a Class C felony to a Class B felony, regardless of the perpetrator's knowledge of the victim's status. Additionally, the bill extends the existing court procedures for freezing assets in financial exploitation cases to include adults at risk, and it applies the same penalties for physical abuse of adults at risk as currently exist for elder persons.

Furthermore, the bill allows for increased prison sentences for crimes against adults at risk, with specific provisions for extending maximum terms of imprisonment based on the severity of the crime. It also modifies the process for obtaining restraining orders, permitting adults at risk to participate in hearings via telephone or audiovisual means. The bill includes various amendments and insertions to existing statutes to reflect these changes, ensuring that adults at risk receive the same legal protections as elder persons.

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)