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2003 SESSION

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SB 1149 Sexually violent predators.

Introduced by: Kenneth W. Stolle | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS ENACTED WITH GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION: (all summaries)

Civil commitment; sexually violent predators. Moves the effective date of the sexually violent predator legislation from 2004 to "effective from its passage." The bill redefines sexually violent offense to include a forcible sexual offense committed prior to July 1, 1981, involving sodomy, object sexual penetration and aggravated sexual battery. A sexually violent predator is defined as a person with a qualifying offense who, because of a mental abnormality or personality disorder, has difficulty controlling his predatory behavior which makes him likely to engage in sexually violent acts and receives a certain minimum score on a sex offender risk assesment instrument. The bill limits the person's ability to raise challenges to the validity of his prior criminal convictions and restricts his right to use evidence in his defense if he refuses to cooperate with his mental examination. Time limits for actions required on behalf of the Commonwealth are extended and primary responsibility for control, care and treatment is placed with the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services or with a private entity with which the Department contracts. The bill changes the standard of proof for finding a person a sexual predator from "beyond a reasonable doubt" to "clear and convincing." This bill is identical to HB 2445.


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