SB1272: Assault and battery; persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability.

Legislative Summary

Assault and battery; persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, or mental illness; penalties. Provides that any person charged with a simple assault and battery offense who has been diagnosed by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist with an autism spectrum disorder, an intellectual disability or developmental disability, or serious mental illness shall not be subject to a mandatory minimum punishment if the court finds that the violation was caused by or had a direct and substantial relationship to the person's disorder or disability. Under current law, certain simple assault and battery offenses carry a mandatory minimum punishment when such offenses are committed against certain groups of people, including judges, law-enforcement officers, first responders, school employees, and health care providers.