Req. No. 592 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) SENATE BILL 549 By: Hines AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to crimes and punishments; amending 21 O.S. 2021, Section s 813 and 815, which relate to aiding suicide and aiding an attempt to commit suicide; modifying punishment for certain felony offenses; expanding applicability of certain felony offenses; making language gender neutral; amending 21 O.S. 2021, Section 1172, which relates to obscene, threatening, or harassing telecommuni cation or other electronic communications; prohibiting certain communications through an online platform; defining term; modifying punishments for certain misdemeanor and felony offenses; amending 21 O.S. 2021, Section 1953, which relates to the Oklahoma C omputer Crimes Act; prohibiting certain actions; creating felony offense; making language gender neutral; repealing 21 O.S. 2021, Sections 817 and 818, which relate to punishment for aiding suicide and punishment for aiding an attempt at suicide; and provi ding an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 21 O.S. 2021, Section 813, is amended to read as follows: Section 813. Every A. Any person who willfully, in any mann er, advises, encourages, abets, or assists another person in taking his or her own life, is shall, upon conviction, be guilty of aiding suicide of a felony punishable by a fine not to exceed Five Thousand Req. No. 592 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Dollars ($5,000.00), imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not less than seven (7) years, or by both s uch fine and imprisonment. B. Any person guilty of a felony offense pursuant to Section 1172 of this title that can be shown to be the proximate cause of the suicide of the vict im of such offense shall, upon conviction, be guilty of an offense under subsection A of this section . SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 21 O.S. 2021, Section 815, is amended to read as follows: Section 815. Every A. Any person who willfully aids another in attempting to take his or her own life, in any manner which by the preceding sections described in Section 813 or 814 of this title that would have amounted to aiding suicide if the person assisted had actually taken his or her own life, is shall, upon conviction, be guilty of aiding an attempt at suicide a felony punishable by a fine not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections not to exceed two (2) years, or by both such fin e and imprisonment. B. Any person guilty of a felony offense pursuant to Sect ion 1172 of this title that can be shown to be the proximate cause of the attempted suicide of the victim of such offense shall, upon conviction, be guilty of an offense under su bsection A of this section. Req. No. 592 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 21 O.S. 2021, Section 1172, is amended to read as follows: Section 1172. A. It shall be unlawful for a person who to, by means of a telecommunication or, other electronic communi cation device, or online platform, willfully either: 1. Makes Make any comment, request, suggestion, or proposal which is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, or indecent with intent to harass or threaten to inflict injury, physical harm, or severe emotional distress to any person ; 2. Makes Make a telecommunication or other electronic communication, or post on an online platform including text, sound , or images with intent to terrify, intimidate or harass, or threaten to inflict injury or, physical harm, or severe emotional distress to any person or property of that person; 3. Makes Make a telecommunication or other electronic communication, or post on an online platform whether or not conversation ensues, with intent to put the party called any person in fear of physical harm or death; 4. Makes Make a telecommunication or other electronic communication, or post on an online platform including text, sound , or images whether or not conversation ensues, without disclosing the identity of the person making the call or, communication, or post and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any person at which the called number communication is directed ; Req. No. 592 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 5. Knowingly permits permit any telecommunication or, other electronic communication , or online platform account under the control of the person to be used for any purpose prohibited by this section; and or 6. In conspiracy or concerted action with other persons, makes make repeated or simultaneous calls or, electronic communications , or simultaneous calls or electronic communications posts on an online platform solely to harass any person at the called number(s) number or on the online platform . B. As used in this section , “telecommunication”: 1. “Online platform” means a website or online application tha t is open to the public, allows a user to create an account, and enables users to communicate with other users for the primary purpose of posting information, comments, messages, or images; and 2. “Telecommunication” and “electronic communication ” mean any type of telephonic, electronic , or radio communications, or transmission of signs, signals, data, writings, images and sounds , or intelligence of any nature by telephone, including cellular telephones, wire, cable, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic , or photo-optical system or the creation, display, management, storage, processing, transmission , or distribution of images, text, voice, video, or data by wire, cable , or wireless means, including the Internet. The term includes a: 1. A Req. No. 592 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 a. communication initiated by electronic mail, instant message, network call, or facsimile ma chine including text, sound, or images;, 2. A b. communication made to a pager ;, or 3. A c. communication including text, sound , or images posted to a social media or other pub lic media source. C. Use of a telephone or other electronic communications facility under this section shall include all use made of such a facility between the points of origin and reception. Any offense under this section is a continuing offense and sh all be deemed to have been committed at either the place of origin or the plac e of reception. D. Except as provided in subsection E of this section, any 1. Any person who is convicted of under the provisions of subsection A of this section , shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed one (1) year, or by both such fine and imprisonment . E. 2. Any person who is convicted of a second offense under the provisions of subsection A of this section shall be guilty of a felony punishable by a fine not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Req. No. 592 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Corrections not to exceed two (2) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment. 3. Any person who is convicted of a third or subsequent offense under the provisions of subsection A of this section shall be guilty of a felony punishable by a fine not less than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) and not more than One Hundred Tho usand Dollars ($100,000.00), or by imprisonment in the custody of the Departme nt of Corrections not to exceed ten (10) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment. SECTION 4. AMENDATORY 21 O.S. 2021, Section 1953, is amended to read as follows: Section 1953. A. It shall be unlawful to: 1. Willfully, and without authorization, gain or attempt to gain access to and damage, modify, alter, delete, destroy, copy, make use of, use malicious computer programs on, disclose or take possession of a computer, computer system, computer network, data or any other property; 2. Use a computer, computer system, computer network or any other property as hereinbefore defined for the purpose of devising or executing a scheme or artifice with the intent to defraud, deceive, extort or for the purpose of controlling or obtaining money, property, data, services or other thing of value by means of a false or fraudulent pretense or representation; Req. No. 592 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 3. Willfully exceed the limits of authorization and dam age, modify, alter, destroy, copy, delete, disclose or take possession of a computer, computer system, computer network, data or any other property; 4. Willfully and without authorization, gain or attempt to gain access to a computer, computer system, com puter network, data or any other property; 5. Willfully and without authorization use or cause to be used computer services; 6. Willfully and without authorization disrupt or cause the disruption of computer services or deny or cause the denial of access or other computer services to an authorized user of a computer, computer syst em or computer network, other than an authorized entity acting for a legitimate business purpose with the effective consent of the owner; 7. Willfully and without authorization provide or assist in providing a means of accessing a computer, computer system, data or computer network in violation of this section; 8. Willfully use a computer, computer system, or computer network, or other electronic device or system to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass another person; 9. Willfully use a computer, computer s ystem, or computer network, or other electronic device or system to put another person in fear of physical harm or death; and Req. No. 592 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 10. Willfully use a computer, computer system, comp uter network, or other electronic device or system to encourage another person to harm himself or herself or to commit suicide; and 11. Willfully solicit another, regardless of any financial consideration or exchange of property, of any acts described in paragraphs 1 through 9 10 of this subsection. B. Any person convicted of viol ating paragraph 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9 or 10, or 11 of subsection A of this section shall be guilty of a felony punishable as provided in Section 1955 of this title. C. Any person convicted of violating paragraph 4, 5 or 8 of subsection A of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. D. Nothing in the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act shall be construed to prohibit the monitoring of computer usage of, or the denial of computer or Inter net access to, a child by a parent, legal guardian, legal custodian, or foster parent. As used in this subsection, “child” shall mean any person less than eighteen (18) years of age. E. Nothing in the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act shall be construed to prohibit testing by an authorized entity, the purpose of which is to provide to the owner or operator of the computer, computer system or computer network an evaluation of the security of the computer, computer system or computer network against real or imagined threats or harms. Req. No. 592 Page 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 5. REPEALER 21 O.S. 202 1, Sections 817 and 818, are hereby repealed. SECTION 6. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025. 60-1-592 CN 1/13/2025 1:34:46 PM