General Assembly Raised Bill No. 456
February Session, 2012 LCO No. 2607
*02607_______JUD*
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Introduced by:
(JUD)
General Assembly
Raised Bill No. 456
February Session, 2012
LCO No. 2607
*02607_______JUD*
Referred to Committee on Judiciary
Introduced by:
(JUD)
AN ACT CONCERNING HARASSMENT, ELECTRONIC HARASSMENT AND CYBERSTALKING.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 53a-183 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2012):
(a) A person is guilty of harassment in the second degree when: (1) By telephone, he addresses another in or uses indecent or obscene language; or (2) with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another person, he communicates with a person by telegraph or mail, by electronically transmitting a facsimile through connection with a telephone network, by computer network, as defined in section 53a-250, or by any other form of written communication, in a manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm; or (3) with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another person, he makes a telephone call, whether or not a conversation ensues, in a manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm.
(b) For the purposes of this section, such offense may be deemed to have been committed either at the place where the [telephone call was made,] communication originated or at the place where it was received.
(c) The court may order any person convicted under this section to be examined by one or more psychiatrists.
(d) Harassment in the second degree is a class C misdemeanor.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2012) (a) A person commits electronic harassment when such person, with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another person, transmits, posts, displays or disseminates, by or through an electronic communication device, radio, computer, Internet web site or similar means, to any person, a communication, image or information, which is based on the actual or perceived traits or characteristics of that person, which:
(1) Places that person in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or property;
(2) Has a substantial and detrimental effect on that person's physical or mental health;
(3) Has the effect of substantially interfering with that person's academic performance, employment or other community activities or responsibilities;
(4) Has the effect of substantially interfering with that person's ability to participate in or benefit from any academic, professional or community-based services, activities or privileges; or
(5) Has the effect of causing substantial embarrassment or humiliation to that person within an academic or professional community.
(b) Electronic harassment is a class A misdemeanor.
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2012) (a) A person commits cyberstalking when such person:
(1) Uses in electronic mail or electronic communication any words or language (A) threatening to inflict physical injury upon any person or upon that person's child, sibling, spouse or dependent, or any person living in the same household as that person, (B) threatening to inflict damage upon the property of any person, or (C) for the purpose of extorting money or other things of value from any person;
(2) Electronically mails or electronically communicates to another person repeatedly, whether or not conversation ensues, for the purpose of threatening, terrifying or harassing that person;
(3) Electronically mails or electronically communicates to another person and knowingly makes any false statement concerning death, injury, illness, disfigurement, indecent conduct or criminal conduct of the person to whom the electronic mail or electronic communication is sent or of any member of the person's family or household with the intent to threaten, terrify or harass such person; or
(4) Knowingly permits an electronic communication device under the person's control to be used for any purpose prohibited under this section.
(c) For the purposes of this section, such offense may be deemed to have been committed either at the place where the electronic mail or electronic communication originated or at the place where it was received.
(d) Cyberstalking is a class A misdemeanor.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2012 53a-183
Sec. 2 October 1, 2012 New section
Sec. 3 October 1, 2012 New section
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
October 1, 2012
53a-183
Sec. 2
October 1, 2012
New section
Sec. 3
October 1, 2012
New section
Statement of Purpose:
To clarify that harassment in the second degree may be deemed to have been committed at the place where the telephonic or electronic communication originated, and establish the offenses of electronic harassment and cyberstalking.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]