Bill > AB848

This bill amends California's sexual battery law by adding a specific sentencing provision for healthcare workers who sexually battery patients. Specifically, the bill requires that in cases of felony sexual battery convictions, if the defendant was employed at a hospital and the victim was either in the defendant's care or seeking medical treatment at that hospital, this circumstance must be considered an aggravating factor during sentencing. The bill builds upon existing law that already considers employer-employee relationships as an aggravating factor in sexual battery cases. The law defines sexual battery broadly, including various scenarios such as touching intimate body parts without consent, touching a person who is unconscious or institutionalized, and touching for purposes of sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse. The bill maintains the existing criminal penalties, which can range from misdemeanor charges with up to one year in county jail and a $2,000 fine, to felony charges with two to four years in state prison and a fine up to $10,000. The bill also includes a provision stating that no additional state reimbursement is required for implementing these changes, as they relate to modifying criminal penalties.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB848