Crimes: sexual assault.

Assembly Member Macedo's legislation expands California's sexual assault penalties to address crimes against dependent persons, establishing new sentencing guidelines for caregivers who commit assault with intent to commit specified sexual offenses. The measure adds a prison term of five, seven, or nine years for caretakers or adults with custody who assault dependent persons under their care, matching existing penalties for similar crimes against minors under 18.

The bill creates distinct sentencing tiers based on victim and perpetrator status. Standard assaults with intent to commit specified sexual offenses carry prison terms of two, four, or six years. Cases involving victims under 18 or dependent persons assaulted by their caregivers both mandate five, seven, or nine year sentences. The legislation also addresses assaults during first-degree burglaries, requiring life imprisonment with the possibility of parole when accompanied by intent to commit enumerated sexual offenses.

While the measure expands the scope of criminal statutes and creates additional enforcement requirements for local agencies, it specifies that no state reimbursement will be provided to local jurisdictions for implementation costs. The bill defines dependent persons through reference to existing statute, maintaining consistency with established legal frameworks for protecting vulnerable populations.