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Senate moves SB 177 forward to extend statute of limitations for certain sexual offenses amid DNA-era questions
Summary
Senator Maine presented SB 177 to increase the statute of limitations to 12 years for certain sexual crimes while adding DNA-related language; floor debate focused on how tolling and DNA exceptions would operate and sponsors withdrew a pending amendment to seek attorneys' clarifications before final amendment votes. The bill was moved to third reading (27-0-2 recorded).
Senate Bill 177, introduced by Senator Maine, would increase the statute of limitations for certain sexual offenses to 12 years and add language accommodating cases where DNA evidence permits later prosecution.
Maine framed the measure around advances in forensic technology and a heartbreaking committee witness, a woman named Jennifer who had been assaulted and whose assailant could not be prosecuted on rape charges because the statutory limit had passed. The sponsor said new DNA tools mean evidence in long-closed…
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