LRB-0614/1
JEO:mfd:jlb
1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE
February 12, 1997 - Introduced by Representatives Krusick, Baldwin, Bock,
Lazich, J. Lehman, Plale and Wasserman, cosponsored by Senators Buettner,
Darling, Plache and
Risser. Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and
Corrections.
AB90,1,2
1An Act to repeal 939.74 (2) (d); and
to amend 939.74 (2) (c) of the statutes;
2relating to: time limits for prosecution of crimes against children.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, generally the time limit for commencing criminal actions is
6 years for a felony and 3 years for a misdemeanor, as measured from the date that
the criminal act was committed. One of the exceptions to the general rule is for
serious crimes against children (such as sexual assault, physical abuse and incest
with a child), which must be commenced before the victim reaches the age of 26 years.
Another exception to the general rule is for repeated acts of sexual assault against
a child, which may be commenced within the general time limits or until the victim
becomes 25 years of age, whichever is later.
This bill requires that a criminal action for a serious crime against a child,
including repeated acts of sexual assault against a child, be commenced before the
victim becomes 35 years of age.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB90, s. 1
3Section
1. 939.74 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB90,2,3
1939.74
(2) (c) A prosecution for violation of s. 948.02,
948.025, 948.03, 948.04,
2948.05, 948.06, 948.07, 948.08 or 948.095 shall be commenced before the victim
3reaches the age of
26 35 years
, or be barred.
AB90, s. 2
4Section
2. 939.74 (2) (d) of the statutes is repealed.
AB90,2,76
(1) This act first applies to offenses not barred from prosecution on the effective
7date of this subsection.
