Rep. Scott Biggs has two pieces of criminal justice reform legislation dealing with sexual assault heading to the Governor’s desk. House Bill 1005 deals with the category in which rape by instrumentation falls. House Bill 1127 deals with the definition of consent given to a jury during a sexual assault trial.
HB 1005 moves rape by instrumentation from a second degree charge to a first degree felony.
HB 1127 instructs the court to provide a definition of “consent” in any criminal jury trial involving sexual assault. This will help juries understand the legal definition of consent, not just what they believe consent is.
“A lot of talk this session has been spent talking about the rights of inmates and people convicted of a crime,” Biggs said. “I am thankful that in the midst of all those conversations, both bodies have come together to pass two pieces of legislation that will help protect the rights of victims.”
Both measures won bi-partisan support and were passed by the Senate unanimously on Tuesday.
