AUGUSTA – A measure to bolster protections for victims of domestic violence and other crimes during sentencing hearings is advancing with bipartisan support from lawmakers on the Legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.

The bill, LD 1413, "An Act To Allow a Victim of a Crime To Be Represented by an Attorney at a Sentencing Hearing," would clarify the law to allow an attorney to appear and speak on behalf of victims of the crime in court. Committee members voted 8-2 in support of a slightly amended bill last week.

Rep. Erin Herbig, D-Belfast, the bill's sponsor, told lawmakers that the bill would apply to all victims but was particularly important for victims of domestic violence.

"Some abusers actually enjoy watching their victim speak in court, which can be uncomfortable, scary and potentially dangerous," said Herbig in a news release. "For some perpetrators, it is rewarding to watch their victims speak about the impact of their abuse. They get to re-live it through the words of the victim."

Herbig said under current law, some judges won't allow a lawyer to speak on behalf of a victim during a sentencing hearing. This law would expressly permit them to do so.

Advocates for victims of domestic violence such as the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence testified in support of the bill.

The bill now faces votes in the House and Senate.

Constitutional Carry Passes Maine Senate

A bill that will eliminate the requirement for Maine residents to apply for a permit in order to carry a concealed weapon passed in the State Senate on May 29.

Lawmakers passed LD 652, “An Act to Authorize the Carrying of Concealed Handguns without a Permit," by a vote of 23-12, with all Senate Republicans and several Democrats voting in favor of the measure.

Senate President Michael Thibodeau, R-Waldo, said in a news release, “I am glad to see that this bill has cleared another critical hurdle in the Maine Senate, and that all Senate Republicans and some fair-minded Democrats were united in standing up for gun owners’ rights here in Maine.”

Though citizens would no longer be required to seek a permit to carry a concealed weapon, the legislation does not remove Maine’s permitting system so that citizens can enjoy reciprocity with other states.

The bill does not change who may carry a firearm, it does not change what kinds of firearms may be carried, nor does it change where firearms may be carried.

The Maine State Police support the legislation.

Several states are already Constitutional Carry states, including Vermont, Alaska, Arizona, and Wyoming.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Over half of the membership of the Maine House, including members of Democrat leadership, have signed on as co-sponsors to the legislation.

 House passes Burstein’s bill to fund HIV prevention

A bill to help prevent the spread of diseases like HIV and viral hepatitis earned the final approval of the Maine House on May 28.

Rep. Christine Burstein, D-Lincolnville, sponsored LD 661, which provides funding for screening, prevention and treatment services through the Maine Center for Disease Control for uninsured Mainers who have contracted or are at-risk of contracting HIV, viral hepatitis and similar diseases.

“With diseases like HIV and viral hepatitis, it’s really crucial to invest in prevention, diagnostic and treatment programs,” Burstein, a family nurse practitioner, said in a news release. “By working to stop these afflictions before they spread, we save Maine taxpayers money as well as unnecessary suffering in the long run.”

Burstein was appointed earlier this year to serve on the HIV Advisory Committee, a statewide panel that advises policymakers on HIV- and AIDS-related issues in Maine.

The Maine CDC estimates that more than 2,000 Mainers were living with HIV as of 2012.  The infectious disease damages the immune system by destroying specific blood cells, leaving those infected vulnerable to infections.

The measure faces additional votes in the Senate before being sent to the governor for his signature.

Burstein is serving her first term in the Maine House and is a member of the Committee on Health and Human Services.  She represents Belmont, Liberty, Lincolnville, Montville, Morrill, Palermo and Searsmont.