Momentum swings in favor of homeless protection bill
Committee members absent from previous vote register their support
AUGUSTA – A bill that would offer protection to homeless people from violent attacks gained pivotal support in the Legislature’s Criminal Justice Committee on March 9th, as lawmakers who were absent for the previous committee vote registered votes in support of the bill. The bill will now go to the full Legislature with a recommendation for passage.
The bill would update Maine laws to allow judges the ability to increase sentences for criminals found guilty of attacking a homeless person. Current law already offers such added protections for people based on age, race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, and sexual orientation.