Bill > H1708

This bill creates specific criminal offenses related to sexual assault by rideshare operators, defining a "rideshare operator" as someone who provides transportation through a digital network platform. The legislation establishes two new criminal offenses: indecent assault and battery on a passenger (punishable by up to 5 years in state prison or 2.5 years in a house of correction) and rape of a passenger (punishable by up to 20 years in state prison). A key provision is that during a "ride" (defined as the period from ride acceptance to passenger departure), a passenger is automatically considered incapable of consenting to sexual contact, which means any sexual interaction during this time can be considered a criminal offense. The bill also amends several existing legal statutes to incorporate these new offenses, including sections related to criminal records, sexual offenses, and prisoner classification. By creating these specific rideshare-related sexual assault provisions, the bill aims to provide clearer legal protections for passengers and establish stronger criminal penalties for rideshare operators who commit sexual crimes during transportation services.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1708