(a)  For the purposes of this section:

(1)  “adult” means a person over the age of eighteen (18).

(2)  “major life activities” means: (i) mobility; (ii) self-care; (iii) communication; (iv) receptive and/or expressive language; (v) learning; (vi) self-direction; (vii) capacity for independent living; or (viii) economic self-sufficiency.

(3)  “person with severe impairments” means a child or adult who has a disability which is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments which results in a substantial limitation on the person’s ability to function independently in the family or community and in one or more major life activities.

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(b)  Any person who shall commit an assault and battery upon a person who is severely impaired as defined in subsection (a) of this section, causing bodily injury, shall be deemed to have committed a felony and shall be imprisoned not exceeding five (5) years, or fined not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or both.

(c)  Violations of this section shall be reported to the local police department.

(d)  After July 1, 2007 pursuant to § 40-8.5-2, the local police department may request the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals provide crisis intervention services for the adult victim with severe impairments when:

(1)  Necessary to ensure the immediate health and safety of the adult victim;

(2)  The adult victim relies on the person believed to have committed the assault and/or battery, for assistance in performing three (3) or more major life activities; and

(3)  After the victim is informed of his or her right to refuse crisis intervention and/or supportive services.