2025 -- S 0294
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LC000605
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- COMPUTER CRIME
Introduced By: Senators Valverde, McKenney, Euer, DiMario, Appollonio, LaMountain,
Raptakis, and Murray
Date Introduced: February 13, 2025
Referred To: Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 11-52-4.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-52 entitled "Computer 1
Crime" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
11-52-4.2. Cyberstalking and cyberharassment prohibited. 3
(a) Whoever transmits any communication by computer or other electronic device to any 4
person or causes any person to be contacted for the sole purpose of harassing that person or his or 5
her family is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred 6
dollars ($500), by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. For the purpose of this section, 7
“harassing” means any knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person which 8
seriously alarms, annoys, or bothers the person, and which serves no legitimate purpose. The course 9
of conduct must be of a kind that would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional 10
distress, or be in fear of bodily injury. “Course of conduct” means a pattern of conduct composed 11
of a series of acts over a period of time, evidencing a continuity of purpose. Constitutionally 12
protected activity is not included within the meaning of “course of conduct.” 13
(b) A second or subsequent conviction under subsection (a) of this section shall be deemed 14
a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than two (2) years, by a fine of not more than 15
six thousand dollars ($6,000), or both. 16
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- COMPUTER CRIME
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This act would make it unnecessary to prove that a person’s transmission of electronic 1
communications be for the sole purpose of harassment before being found guilty of cyberstalking 2
or cyberharrassment. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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