HB1501, titled “an act relative to the penalty for certain sexual assault cases where the perpetrator is under 21 years of age,” is a bill that would downgrade the penalties for statutory rape for an actor under 21 to a class A misdemeanor.

We support this bill, as it would lessen the penalties against harmless teenage experimentation. We don’t believe it goes far enough—such people would still be forced to register as sex-offenders—but it’s a good start.