Sen. Bailey bill to expand access to justice for domestic violence survivors receives bipartisan support in committee

AUGUSTA — On Tuesday, the Legislature’s Committee on Judiciary voted in favor of a bill sponsored by Sen. Donna Bailey, D-Saco, that will help make the Protection from Abuses Statutes more accessible and understandable. An amended version of the bill, LD 1696, “An Act To Clarify and Recodify Maine’s Protection from Abuse Statutes,” received a strong, bipartisan vote of 11 to 1, with two members absent.

“My goal for this bill is to make the Protection from Abuse Statutes clearer and easier to read,” said Sen. Bailey. “The amendments discussed during this morning’s work session did just that. There are no substantive changes to the statutes, but they are more accessible. Also, the incorporated case law will help people who cannot afford an attorney to understand the law on their own.”

LD 1696 would recodify and restructure the Protection from Abuse Statutes so that they are clear, easy to read and understandable. The bill, without making any substantive changes, also incorporates relevant case law into the statutory framework. The amendment version of the bill also updates the cross-references between the Protection from Abuse Statutes and relevant statutory law.

During the public hearing for the bill, Elizabeth Ward Saxl of the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault said approximately 14,000 Mainers experience sexual violence each year. However, less than 5 percent of those Maine survivors will file a police report. For many survivors, they can seek civil protection from abuse orders but only if they can interpret the statutes without the benefit of legal counsel. As amended, the statutes will help survivors, especially those who cannot afford a lawyer, seek protection.

LD 1696 now faces votes in the Senate and House.

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