UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 294
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AN ACT relating to lasers. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
ď˘Section 1. KRS 500.080 is amended to read as follows: 3
As used in the Kentucky Penal Code, unless the context otherwise requires: 4
(1) "Actor" means any natural person and, where relevant, a corporation or an 5
unincorporated association; 6
(2) "Crime" means a misdemeanor or a felony; 7
(3) "Dangerous instrument" means any instrument, including parts of the human body 8
when a serious physical injury is a direct result of the use of that part of the human 9
body, article, or substance which, under the circumstances in which it is used, 10
attempted to be used, or threatened to be used, is readily capable of causing death or 11
serious physical injury. "Dangerous instrument" may include a laser; 12
(4) "Deadly weapon" means any of the following: 13
(a) A weapon of mass destruction; 14
(b) Any weapon from which a shot, readily capable of producing death or other 15
serious physical injury, may be discharged; 16
(c) Any knife other than an ordinary pocket knife or hunting knife; 17
(d) Billy, nightstick, or club; 18
(e) Blackjack or slapjack; 19
(f) Nunchaku karate sticks; 20
(g) Shuriken or death star; or 21
(h) Artificial knuckles made from metal, plastic, or other similar hard material; 22
(5) "Felony" means an offense for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment of at 23
least one (1) year in the custody of the Department of Corrections may be imposed; 24
(6) "Government" means the United States, any state, county, municipality, or other 25
political unit, or any department, agency, or subdivision of any of the foregoing, or 26
any corporation or other association carrying out the functions of government; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 294
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(7) "He" means any natural person and, where relevant, a corporation or an 1
unincorporated association; 2
(8) "Impacted by the disaster" means the location or in reasonable proximity to the 3
location where a natural or man-made disaster has caused physical injury, serious 4
physical injury, death, or substantial damage to property or infrastructure; 5
(9) "Laser" means any device designed or used to amplify electromagnetic radiation 6
by stimulated emission that emits a beam; 7
(10) "Law" includes statutes, ordinances, and properly adopted regulatory provisions. 8
Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, "law" also includes the common law; 9
(11)[(10)] "Minor" means any person who has not reached the age of majority as defined 10
in KRS 2.015; 11
(12)[(11)] "Misdemeanor" means an offense, other than a traffic infraction, for which a 12
sentence to a term of imprisonment of not more than twelve (12) months can be 13
imposed; 14
(13)[(12)] "Natural or man-made disaster" means a tornado, storm, or other severe 15
weather, earthquake, flood, or fire that poses a significant threat to human health 16
and safety, property, or critical infrastructure; 17
(14)[(13)] "Offense" means conduct for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment or 18
to a fine is provided by any law of this state or by any law, local law, or ordinance 19
of a political subdivision of this state or by any law, order, rule, or regulation of any 20
governmental instrumentality authorized by law to adopt the same; 21
(15)[(14)] "Person" means a human being, and where appropriate, a public or private 22
corporation, an unincorporated association, a partnership, a government, or a 23
governmental authority; 24
(16)[(15)] "Physical injury" means substantial physical pain or any impairment of 25
physical condition; 26
(17)[(16)] "Possession" means to have actual physical possession or otherwise to 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 294
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exercise actual dominion or control over a tangible object; 1
(18)[(17)] "Serious physical injury" means physical injury which creates a substantial 2
risk of death, or which causes serious and prolonged disfigurement, prolonged 3
impairment of health, or prolonged loss or impairment of the function of any bodily 4
organ. For a child twelve (12) years of age or less at the time of the injury, a serious 5
physical injury includes but is not limited to the following: 6
(a) Bruising near the eyes, or on the head, neck, or lower back overlying the 7
kidneys; 8
(b) Any bruising severe enough to cause underlying muscle damage as 9
determined by elevated creatine kinase levels in the blood; 10
(c) Any bruising or soft tissue injury to the genitals that affects the ability to 11
urinate or defecate; 12
(d) Any testicular injury sufficient to put fertility at risk; 13
(e) Any burn near the eyes or involving the mouth, airway, or esophagus; 14
(f) Any burn deep enough to leave scarring or dysfunction of the body; 15
(g) Any burn requiring hospitalization, debridement in the operating room, IV 16
fluids, intubation, or admission to a hospital's intensive care unit; 17
(h) Rib fracture; 18
(i) Scapula or sternum fractures; 19
(j) Any broken bone that requires surgery; 20
(k) Head injuries that result in intracranial bleeding, skull fracture, or brain 21
injury; 22
(l) A concussion that results in the child becoming limp, unresponsive, or results 23
in seizure activity; 24
(m) Abdominal injuries that indicate internal organ damage regardless of whether 25
surgery is required; 26
(n) Any injury requiring surgery; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 294
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(o) Any injury that requires a blood transfusion; and 1
(p) Any injury requiring admission to a hospital's critical care unit; 2
(19)[(18)] "Unlawful" means contrary to law or, where the context so requires, not 3
permitted by law. It does not mean wrongful or immoral; 4
(20)[(19)] "Violation" means an offense, other than a traffic infraction, for which a 5
sentence to a fine only can be imposed; and 6
(21)[(20)] "Weapon of mass destruction" means: 7
(a) Any destructive device as defined in KRS 237.030, but not fireworks as 8
defined in KRS 227.700; 9
(b) Any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious physical 10
injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous 11
chemicals or their precursors; 12
(c) Any weapon involving a disease organism; or 13
(d) Any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level 14
dangerous to human life. 15