3.__Elevated aggravated assault on an unborn child is a Class A crime.

4.__Prosecution of a person under this section does not prohibit the prosecution of the person under any other law.

SUMMARY

This bill creates the new crimes of murder, felony murder, assault, aggravated assault and elevated aggravated assault against an unborn child. Punishment for these crimes is consistent with penalties for the same offenses committed against persons as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17-A, chapter 9.

These crimes against unborn children do not apply to an abortion to which the pregnant woman has consented, nor do they apply to acts committed pursuant to usual and customary standards of medical practice during diagnostic or therapeutic treatment. These crimes do not apply to the pregnant woman.

For purposes of this bill, an unborn child is defined as an individual of the human species from the state of fetal development when the life of the fetus may be continued indefinitely outside the womb by natural or artificial life- supportive systems until birth.