Rep. Rob Kreibich

MADISON – My bill, which increases penalties for crimes committed against “adults at risk,” passed the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety Wednesday with a strong bipartisan vote of 13-1.

Under current law, crime victims over the age of 60 receive additional protection in court. This bill extends those protections to adults with a physical or mental disadvantage who are more at risk of experiencing abuse, neglect or financial exploitation.

AB 19 aims to protect the classification of people who are some of the most vulnerable in our society. This bill increases terms of imprisonment for convicted criminals where the victim was an adult at risk and increases the severity of sexual misconduct crimes committed against an adult at risk, raising a second degree sexual assault to a first-degree sexual assault.

This bill also allows courts to freeze or seize assets from a defendant who has been charged of financial exploitation against an adult at risk to preserve property for future restitution. Under this bill, when an adult at risk is seeking a domestic violence or harassment restraining order, he or she has the option to remotely participate in court proceedings.

The Senate companion bill, led by Sen. André Jacque, passed out of committee with bipartisan support in March. Our proposal is supported by the Alzheimer’s Association, the Wisconsin Nurses Association and legislators on both sides of the aisle. I look forward to seeing this bill pass through the Senate and Assembly and onto the Governor’s desk.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to join my mailing list, please feel free to reach out to me at 608-237-9128 or at Rep.Kreibich@legis.wisconsin.gov.

Rep. Rob Kreibich represents Wisconsin’s 28th Assembly District, consisting of parts of St. Croix, Pierce and Dunn counties.