Battery by a person detained while awaiting trial as a sexually violent person and providing a penalty

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, a person who intentionally causes bodily harm to another person commits simple battery and is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Current law increases the penalty for battery under special circumstances. For instance, if a person who is committed to a facility as a sexually violent person commits battery against an officer, employee, agent, visitor, or other resident of the facility, the person is guilty of a Class H felony. This bill adds that a person who is placed in a facility awaiting a commitment trial as a sexually violent person is also guilty of a Class H felony if he or she commits battery against an officer, employee, agent, visitor, or other resident of the facility.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.

Who's behind it

Howard Marklein, a Republican, is its author⁠.

6 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.