AUGUSTA - On Tuesday, a majority of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee voted to advance legislation from Rep. Nina Milliken, D-Blue Hill, that would create a civil cause of action in Maine law for victims of non-consensual condom removal, colloquially known as "stealthing."
As amended, LD 1683 would provide stealthing victims with a recourse to hold their perpetrator accountable by establishing a civil cause of action with a six-year statute of limitations. The bill also creates rules and standards for courts to consider regarding custody and support should a child be conceived as a result of stealthing.
"With this vote, Maine has moved one step closer to providing a recourse for stealthing victims to seek justice," said Milliken. "Stealthing is sexual assault, and as a state, we must ensure that our laws do a better job of encompassing all clear violations of bodily autonomy. This legislation will close the current loopholes in state law and finally provide stealthing victims a path to the justice that they deserve."
In 2022, California became the first state in the nation to allow victims of stealthing to sue their perpetrator. Other states including Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Vermont have also considered similar bills in recent years.
LD 1683 will move to the full Legislature for consideration in the coming weeks.
Milliken, a member of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, is serving her first term in the Maine House and represents Blue Hill, Brooksville, Castine, Sedgwick, Surry and Trenton.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Milliken], c. 305-965-2744