AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee held a public hearing Friday on a proposal to strengthen how the Maine National Guard prevents and responds to sexual assault and sexual harassment. The bill, LD 2029, was introduced by the committee following a briefing from the Maine National Guard on the issue, as required by LD 625, a bill sponsored by Rep. Morgan Rielly, D-Westbrook.
Several service members who survived sexual trauma in the Maine National Guard testified in support of LD 2029 during the public hearing.
"I am so grateful to the current and former service members who courageously shared their experiences with our committee today," said Rielly, who spearheaded the committee's work on LD 2029. "All survivors of sexual trauma deserve justice, and it is critical we improve systems of accountability and prevention in the Maine National Guard. No service member should be subject to sexual assault and harassment while serving their country. If the Legislature passes this measure, we will be taking a significant step towards preventing sexual trauma, improving accountability and supporting survivors within the Maine National Guard."
LD 2029 would put into statute the Advisory Council on Sexual Trauma in the Maine National Guard to review best practices on how to prevent and respond to sexual assault and sexual harassment. The measure would direct a review to be conducted on how reports of sexual assault are investigated, prosecuted and adjudicated by the Maine National Guard. In an amendment proposed by Rielly, the review would be conducted independently with the Office of the Maine Attorney General.
Additionally, the LD 2029 would require the adjutant general to provide current and former members of the Maine National Guard who survived sexual assault while in service with financial assistance to cover the expenses associated with attending judicial proceedings related to the assault. The measure would also strengthen the definition of the crime of harassment within the guard.
The committee's public hearing on LD 2029 follows the Mills administration's announcement on Thursday of an executive order establishing an advisory council to strengthen the Maine National Guard's response to sexual assault and harassment.
The committee will hold a work session on LD 2029 in the coming days.
Rielly is serving his first term in the Maine House of Representatives as a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs. He represents a portion of Westbrook.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Rielly], c. 812-1111