Oklahoma 2024 2024 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB2159 Amended / Bill

Filed 04/15/2024

                     
 
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SENATE FLOOR VERSION 
April 11, 2024 
AS AMENDED 
 
ENGROSSED HOUSE 
BILL NO. 2159 	By: Ford of the House 
 
  and 
 
  Pederson of the Senate 
 
 
 
 
An Act relating to crimes and punishments; amending 
21 O.S. Section 1992, which relates to the Laser 
Safety Act; increasing penalties; updating language; 
and providing an effective date. 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     21 O.S. 2021, Section 1992, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 1992.  A.  Thi s section shall be known and may be cited 
as the "Laser Safety Act". 
B.  Any person who knowingly and maliciously projects a laser, 
as defined in this section, on or at a law enforcement officer 
without the consent of the officer while the officer is actin g 
within the scope of the official duties of the officer shall , upon 
conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be 
punished punishable by a fine of not more than One Hundred Dollars 
($100.00) Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment in the 
county jail for a period of not more than one (1) year, or by both   
 
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such fine and imprisonment .  Any person who commits a second or 
subsequent violation of this section shall , upon conviction, be 
guilty of a misdemeanor felony punishable by a fine of not more than 
Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), a 
term of or by imprisonment in the county jail custody of the 
Department of Corrections for a period of not more than six (6) 
months two (2) years, or by both such fi ne and imprisonment. 
C.  Anyone who knowingly aims the beam of a laser pointer at an 
aircraft in flight or at the flight path of an aircraft shall , upon 
conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be 
punished felony punishable by a fine of not more than One Hundred 
Dollars ($100.00) One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or by 
imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a 
period of not less than three (3) months nor more than two (2) 
years, or by both such fine and impri sonment.  Any person who 
commits a second or subsequent violation of this section shall , upon 
conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor felony punishable by a fine 
of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) Five Thousand 
Dollars ($5,000.00), a term of or by imprisonment in the county jail 
custody of the Department of Cor rections for a period of not less 
than one (1) year nor more than six (6) months five (5) years, or by 
both such fine and imprisonment. 
D.  This section does not prohibit aiming a beam of a laser 
pointer at an aircraft, or the flight path of such an aircraft by:   
 
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1.  An authorized individual in the conduct of research and 
development or flight test operations conducted by an aircraft 
manufacturer, the Federal Aviation Administration, or any other 
person authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to co nduct 
research and development or flight test operations; 
2.  Members or elements of the Department of Defense or 
Department of Homeland Security acting in an official capacity for 
the purpose of research, development, operations, testing or 
training; or 
3.  By an individual using a laser emergency signaling device to 
send an emergency distress signal. 
E.  As used in this section: 
1.  "Laser" or "laser pointer" means any device designed or used 
to amplify electromagnetic radiation by stimulated emission tha t 
emits a beam designed to be used by the operator as a pointer or 
highlighter to indicate, mark or identify a specific position, 
place, item or object; and 
2.  "Law enforcement officer " means any police officer, peace 
officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, correctional officer, probation or 
parole officer, emergency management employee, judge, magistrate, or 
any employee of a governmental agency who is authorized by law to 
engage in the investi gation, arrest, prosecution, or supervision of 
the incarceration of any person for any violation of law and has 
statutory powers of arrest.   
 
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SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2023. 
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON PUBL IC SAFETY 
April 11, 2024 - DO PASS AS AMENDED