An Act To Allow Consideration of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder at Sentencing in a Criminal Case
Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §1160 is enacted to read:
§ 1160. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder as a mitigating factor
When sentencing a person convicted of a crime, a court may take into consideration as a mitigating factor that:
For purposes of this section, "fetal alcohol spectrum disorder" means a condition of impaired brain function constituting a permanent birth defect of a person caused by that person's mother's consumption of alcohol while pregnant with that person.
summary
This bill allows a court to consider as a mitigating factor in sentencing a person convicted of a crime that the person suffers from the condition of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is defined as a condition of impaired brain function constituting a permanent birth defect in a person caused by that person's mother's consumption of alcohol while pregnant with that person.