S.B. 91

1

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION HARASSMENT
2 AMENDMENT
3 2009 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Jon J. Greiner
6 House Sponsor: Paul Ray
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill modifies the Criminal Code regarding electronic communication harassment
11 by including the act of causing substantial emotional distress as a form of harassment
12 and by amending the penalties.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This bill:
15 . defines "adult" and "minor";
16 . expands the offense of electronic communication harassment to include acts
17 intended to cause substantial emotional distress;
18 . modifies the penalties for electronic communication harassment:
19 . by increasing the penalty for repeat offenses; and
20 . by providing a greater penalty if the victim is a minor;
21 . clarifies that electronic harassment may create a civil cause of action if the
22 electronic communications are not made for legitimate business purposes; and
23 . amends a cross reference.
24 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
25 None
26 Other Special Clauses:
27 None

28 Utah Code Sections Affected:
29 AMENDS:
30 31A-21-501, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2001, Chapter 116
31 76-9-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 128
32
33 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
34 Section 1. Section 31A-21-501 is amended to read:
35 31A-21-501. Definitions.
36 For purposes of this part:
37 (1) "Applicant" means:
38 (a) in the case of an individual life or accident and health policy, the person who seeks
39 to contract for insurance benefits; or
40 (b) in the case of a group life or accident and health policy, the proposed certificate
41 holder.
42 (2) "Cohabitant" means an emancipated individual pursuant to Section 15-2-1 or an
43 individual who is 16 years of age or older who:
44 (a) is or was a spouse of the other party;
45 (b) is or was living as if a spouse of the other party;
46 (c) is related by blood or marriage to the other party;
47 (d) has one or more children in common with the other party; or
48 (e) resides or has resided in the same residence as the other party.
49 (3) "Child abuse" means the commission or attempt to commit against a child a
50 criminal offense described in:
51 (a) Title 76, Chapter 5, Part 1, Assault and Related Offenses;
52 (b) Title 76, Chapter 5, Part 4, Sexual Offenses;
53 (c) Subsections 76-9-702 (1) through (4), Lewdness - Sexual battery; or
54 (d) Section 76-9-702.5 , Lewdness Involving a Child.
55 (4) "Domestic violence" means any criminal offense involving violence or physical
56 harm or threat of violence or physical harm, or any attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to
57 commit a criminal offense involving violence or physical harm, when committed by one
58 cohabitant against another and includes commission or attempt to commit, any of the following

59 offenses by one cohabitant against another:
60 (a) aggravated assault, as described in Section 76-5-103 ;
61 (b) assault, as described in Section 76-5-102 ;
62 (c) criminal homicide, as described in Section 76-5-201 ;
63 (d) harassment, as described in Section 76-5-106 ;
64 (e) [telephone] electronic communication harassment, as described in Section
65 76-9-201 ;
66 (f) kidnaping, child kidnaping, or aggravated kidnaping, as described in Sections
67 76-5-301 , 76-5-301.1 , and 76-5-302 ;
68 (g) mayhem, as described in Section 76-5-105 ;
69 (h) sexual offenses, as described in Title 76, Chapter 5, Part 4, and Title 76, Chapter
70 5a;
71 (i) stalking, as described in Section 76-5-106.5 ;
72 (j) unlawful detention, as described in Section 76-5-304 ;
73 (k) violation of a protective order or ex parte protective order, as described in Section
74 76-5-108 ;
75 (l) any offense against property described in Title 76, Chapter 6, Part 1, 2, or 3;
76 (m) possession of a deadly weapon with intent to assault, as described in Section
77 76-10-507 ; or
78 (n) discharge of a firearm from a vehicle, near a highway, or in the direction of any
79 person, building, or vehicle, as described in Section 76-10-508 .
80 (5) "Subject of domestic abuse" means an individual who is, has been, may currently
81 be, or may have been subject to domestic violence or child abuse.
82 Section 2. Section 76-9-201 is amended to read:
83 76-9-201. Electronic communication harassment -- Definitions -- Penalties.
84 (1) As used in this section:
85 (a) "Adult" means a person 18 years of age or older.
86 [(a)] (b) "Electronic communication" means any communication by electronic,
87 electro-mechanical, or electro-optical communication device for the transmission and reception
88 of audio, image, or text but does not include broadcast transmissions or similar
89 communications that are not targeted at any specific individual.

90 [(b)] (c) "Electronic communication device" includes telephone, facsimile, electronic
91 mail, or pager.
92 (d) "Minor" means a person who is younger than 18 years of age.
93 (2) A person is guilty of electronic communication harassment and subject to
94 prosecution in the jurisdiction where the communication originated or was received if with
95 intent to annoy, alarm, intimidate, offend, abuse, threaten, harass, frighten, cause substantial
96 emotional distress, or disrupt the electronic communications of another, the person:
97 (a) (i) makes repeated contact by means of electronic communications, whether or not
98 a conversation ensues; or
99 (ii) after the recipient has requested or informed the person not to contact the recipient,
100 and the person repeatedly or continuously:
101 (A) contacts the electronic communication device of the recipient; or
102 (B) causes an electronic communication device of the recipient to ring or to receive
103 other notification of attempted contact by means of electronic communication;
104 (b) makes contact by means of electronic communication and insults, taunts, or
105 challenges the recipient of the communication or any person at the receiving location in a
106 manner likely to provoke a violent or disorderly response;
107 (c) makes contact by means of electronic communication and threatens to inflict injury,
108 physical harm, or damage to any person or the property of any person; or
109 (d) causes disruption, jamming, or overload of an electronic communication system
110 through excessive message traffic or other means utilizing an electronic communication device.
111 (3) (a) (i) Electronic communication harassment committed against an adult is a class
112 B misdemeanor[.], except under Subsection (3)(a)(ii).
113 (ii) A second or subsequent offense under Subsection (3)(a)(i) is a:
114 (A) class A misdemeanor if all prior violations of this section were committed against
115 adults; and
116 (B) a third degree felony if any prior violation of this section was committed against a
117 minor.
118 (b) (i) Electronic communication harassment committed against a minor is a class A
119 misdemeanor, except under Subsection (3)(b)(ii).
120 (ii) A second or subsequent offense under Subsection (3)(b)(i) is a third degree felony,

121 regardless of whether any prior violation of this section was committed against a minor or an
122 adult.
123 (4) (a) Except under Subsection (4)(b), criminal prosecution under this section does not
124 affect an individual's right to bring a civil action for damages suffered as a result of the
125 commission of any of the offenses under this section.
126 [(4)] (b) This section does not create any civil cause of action based on electronic
127 communications made for legitimate business purposes.




Legislative Review Note
as of 8-6-08 8:03 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel