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 range of penalties for physical abuse of adults at risk as currently exists for elder persons.

Furthermore, the bill allows for increased prison sentences for crimes against adults at risk, with specific provisions for extending maximum terms 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 to existing statutes to incorporate the definitions and protections for adults at risk, ensuring that they receive the same legal considerations as elder persons in similar situations.

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)