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An Act Regarding Assault on a Firefighter
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §752-E  is enacted to read:
§ 752-E.  Assault on a firefighter
 
1.    A person is guilty of assault on a firefighter if the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to a firefighter while the firefighter is in the performance of the firefighter’s official duties at the scene of a fire or other emergency.
 
2.    As used in this section, "firefighter" means a municipal firefighter as defined in Title 30-A, section 3151, subsection 2 or a volunteer firefighter as defined in Title 30-A, section 3151, subsection 4.
 
3.    Assault on a firefighter is a Class C crime.
 
SUMMARY
Current law makes assault on a police officer or emergency medical services person a Class C crime. This bill extends the same penalty to assault on a firefighter while the firefighter is engaged in the firefighter's official duties at the scene of a fire or other emergency.