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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies the Criminal Code regarding offenses committed by means of
10 electronic or computer functions.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ defines critical infrastructure regarding computer crimes and creates the offense of
14 interfering electronically or by computer with critical infrastructure;
15 ▸ defines a denial of service and provides a penalty for causing a denial of service;
16 ▸ provides that reporting a false emergency situation involving violence or harm, and
17 also reporting that the nonexistent emergency is at a specified location, is a criminal
18 offense;
19 ▸ modifies an element of computer crimes to include a person who acts with
20 authorization, but then commits a crime;
21 ▸ modifies the reporting procedure for computer crime offenses; and
22 ▸ modifies the offense of electronic communication harassment to include distribution
23 of personal identifying information.
24 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
25 None
26 Other Special Clauses:
27 None
28 Utah Code Sections Affected:
29 AMENDS:
30 76-6-702, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 72
31 76-6-703, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 193
32 76-6-705, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1993, Chapter 38
33 76-9-105, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2002, Chapter 166
34 76-9-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 326
35 76-9-202, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2002, Chapter 166
36
37 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
38 Section 1. Section 76-6-702 is amended to read:
39 76-6-702. Definitions.
40 As used in this part:
41 (1) "Access" means to directly or indirectly use, attempt to use, instruct, communicate
42 with, cause input to, cause output from, or otherwise make use of any resources of a computer,
43 computer system, computer network, or any means of communication with any of them.
44 (2) "Authorization" means having the express or implied consent or permission of the
45 owner, or of the person authorized by the owner to give consent or permission to access a
46 computer, computer system, or computer network in a manner not exceeding the consent or
47 permission.
48 (3) "Computer" means any electronic device or communication facility that stores,
49 [
50 (4) "Computer system" means a set of related, connected or unconnected, devices,
51 software, or other related computer equipment.
52 (5) "Computer network" means:
53 (a) the interconnection of communication or telecommunication lines between:
54 (i) computers; or
55 (ii) computers and remote terminals; or
56 (b) the interconnection by wireless technology between:
57 (i) computers; or
58 (ii) computers and remote terminals.
59 (6) "Computer property" includes electronic impulses, electronically produced data,
60 information, financial instruments, software, or programs, in either machine or human readable
61 form, any other tangible or intangible item relating to a computer, computer system, computer
62 network, and copies of any of them.
63 (7) "Confidential" means data, text, or computer property that is protected by a security
64 system that clearly evidences that the owner or custodian intends that it not be available to
65 others without the owner's or custodian's permission.
66 (8) "Critical infrastructure" means the same as that term is defined in Subsection
67 76-6-106(1).
68 (9) "Damage" means any of the following that result from a violation of this part:
69 (a) physical harm to or loss of real, personal, or commercial property; and
70 (b) economic losses incurred by the victim.
71 (10) "Denial of service attack" means an attack or intrusion that is intended to disrupt
72 legitimate access to a network resource or system.
73 [
74 (a) through use of:
75 (i) an electronic product identification or tracking system; or
76 (ii) other technology used by a retailer to identify, track, or price goods; [
77 (b) by a retailer through the use of equipment designed to read the electronic product
78 identification or tracking system data located within the retailer's location.
79 [
80 (a) licenses, certificates, and permits granted by governments;
81 (b) degrees, diplomas, and grades awarded by educational institutions;
82 (c) military ranks, grades, decorations, and awards;
83 (d) membership and standing in organizations and religious institutions;
84 (e) certification as a peace officer;
85 (f) credit reports; and
86 (g) another record or datum upon which a person may be reasonably expected to rely in
87 making decisions that will have a direct benefit or detriment to another.
88 [
89 computer property that has some form of access control technology implemented, such as
90 encryption, password protection, other forced authentication, or access control designed to keep
91 out unauthorized persons.
92 [
93 [
94 deposit, letter of credit, bill of exchange, electronic fund transfer, automated clearing house
95 transaction, credit card, or marketable security.
96 [
97 form acceptable to a computer, relating to the operations of the computer, or permitting the
98 functioning of a computer system in a manner designed to provide results including system
99 control programs, application programs, or copies of any of them.
100 Section 2. Section 76-6-703 is amended to read:
101 76-6-703. Computer crimes and penalties.
102 (1) A person who with or without authorization gains or attempts to gain access to any
103 computer and unlawfully alters, damages, destroys, discloses, or modifies any computer,
104 computer network, computer property, computer system, computer program, or computer data
105 or software, and [
106 person or entity, or obtains money, property, information, or a benefit for any person without
107 legal right, is guilty of:
108 (a) a class B misdemeanor when:
109 (i) the financial or property damage caused or the value of the money, property, or
110 benefit obtained or sought to be obtained is less than $500; or
111 (ii) the information obtained is not confidential;
112 (b) a class A misdemeanor when the damage caused or the value of the money,
113 property, or benefit obtained or sought to be obtained is or exceeds $500 but is less than
114 $1,500;
115 (c) a third degree felony when the financial or property damage caused or the value of
116 the money, property, or benefit obtained or sought to be obtained is or exceeds $1,500 but is
117 less than $5,000;
118 (d) a second degree felony when the financial or property damage caused or the value
119 of the money, property, or benefit obtained or sought to be obtained is or exceeds $5,000; or
120 (e) a third degree felony when:
121 (i) the property or benefit obtained or sought to be obtained is a license or entitlement;
122 (ii) the damage is to the license or entitlement of another person; or
123 (iii) the information obtained is confidential; or
124 (iv) in gaining access the person breaches or breaks through a security system.
125 (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), a person who intentionally or
126 knowingly and without authorization gains or attempts to gain access to a computer, computer
127 network, computer property, or computer system under circumstances not otherwise
128 constituting an offense under this section is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
129 (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(a), a retailer that uses an electronic product
130 identification or tracking system, or other technology to identify, track, or price goods is not
131 guilty of a violation of Subsection (2)(a) if the equipment designed to read the electronic
132 product identification or tracking system data and used by the retailer to identify, track, or price
133 goods is located within the retailer's location.
134 (3) A person who uses or knowingly allows another person to use any computer,
135 computer network, computer property, or computer system, program, or software to devise or
136 execute any artifice or scheme to defraud or to obtain money, property, services, or other things
137 of value by false pretenses, promises, or representations, is guilty of an offense based on the
138 value of the money, property, services, or things of value, in the degree set forth in Subsection
139 76-10-1801(1).
140 (4) A person who intentionally or knowingly, and with or without authorization,
141 interferes with or interrupts computer services to another authorized to receive the services is
142 guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
143 (5) A person who by means of a computer, computer network, computer property,
144 computer system, computer program, computer data or software intentionally or knowingly
145 interferes with or interrupts critical infrastructure is guilty of a third degree felony.
146 [
147 access or attempted to obtain access in response to, and for the purpose of protecting against or
148 investigating, a prior attempted or successful breach of security of a computer, computer
149 network, computer property, computer system whose security the person is authorized or
150 entitled to protect, and the access attempted or obtained was no greater than reasonably
151 necessary for that purpose.
152 Section 3. Section 76-6-705 is amended to read:
153 76-6-705. Reporting violations.
154 Every person, except [
155 applies, who has reason to believe that [
156 is being or [
157 (1) the attorney general[
158 district attorney of the county or prosecution district in which part or all of the violations
159 occurred[
160 (2) a state or local law enforcement agency
161 Section 4. Section 76-9-105 is amended to read:
162 76-9-105. Making a false alarm -- Penalties.
163 (1) A person is guilty of making a false alarm if [
164 report or warning of any fire, impending bombing, or other crime or catastrophe, knowing that
165 the report or warning is false or baseless and is likely to cause evacuation of any building, place
166 of assembly, or facility of public transport, to cause public inconvenience or alarm or action of
167 any sort by any official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies.
168 (2) (a) Making a false alarm relating to a weapon of mass destruction as defined in
169 Section 76-10-401 is a second degree felony.
170 (b) Making a false alarm that alleges an ongoing act or an imminent threat of an act
171 that causes or threatens to cause bodily harm, serious bodily injury, or death against another
172 person is a third degree felony.
173 [
174 misdemeanor.
175 (3) In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, a court shall order any person
176 convicted of a felony violation of this section to reimburse any federal, state, or local unit of
177 government, or any private business, organization, individual, or entity for all expenses and
178 losses incurred in responding to the violation, unless the court states on the record the reasons
179 why the court finds the reimbursement would be inappropriate.
180 Section 5. Section 76-9-201 is amended to read:
181 76-9-201. Electronic communication harassment -- Definitions -- Penalties.
182 (1) As used in this section:
183 (a) "Adult" means a person 18 years of age or older.
184 (b) "Electronic communication" means any communication by electronic,
185 electro-mechanical, or electro-optical communication device for the transmission and reception
186 of audio, image, or text but does not include broadcast transmissions or similar
187 communications that are not targeted at any specific individual.
188 (c) "Electronic communication device" includes telephone, facsimile, electronic mail,
189 [
190 (d) "Minor" means a person who is younger than 18 years of age.
191 (e) "Personal identifying information" means the same as that term is defined in
192 Section 76-6-1102.
193 (2) A person is guilty of electronic communication harassment and subject to
194 prosecution in the jurisdiction where the communication originated or was received if with
195 intent to annoy, alarm, intimidate, offend, abuse, threaten, harass, frighten, or disrupt the
196 electronic communications of another, the person:
197 (a) (i) makes repeated contact by means of electronic communications, whether or not
198 a conversation ensues; or
199 (ii) after the recipient has requested or informed the person not to contact the recipient,
200 and the person repeatedly or continuously:
201 (A) contacts the electronic communication device of the recipient; or
202 (B) causes an electronic communication device of the recipient to ring or to receive
203 other notification of attempted contact by means of electronic communication;
204 (b) makes contact by means of electronic communication and insults, taunts, or
205 challenges the recipient of the communication or any person at the receiving location in a
206 manner likely to provoke a violent or disorderly response;
207 (c) makes contact by means of electronic communication and threatens to inflict injury,
208 physical harm, or damage to any person or the property of any person; [
209 (d) causes disruption, jamming, or overload of an electronic communication system
210 through excessive message traffic or other means utilizing an electronic communication
211 device[
212 (e) electronically publishes, posts, or otherwise makes available personal identifying
213 information in a public online site or forum.
214 (3) (a) (i) Electronic communication harassment committed against an adult is a class
215 B misdemeanor, except under Subsection (3)(a)(ii).
216 (ii) A second or subsequent offense under Subsection (3)(a)(i) is a:
217 (A) class A misdemeanor if all prior violations of this section were committed against
218 adults; and
219 (B) a third degree felony if any prior violation of this section was committed against a
220 minor.
221 (b) (i) Electronic communication harassment committed against a minor is a class A
222 misdemeanor, except under Subsection (3)(b)(ii).
223 (ii) A second or subsequent offense under Subsection (3)(b)(i) is a third degree felony,
224 regardless of whether any prior violation of this section was committed against a minor or an
225 adult.
226 (4) (a) Except under Subsection (4)(b), criminal prosecution under this section does not
227 affect an individual's right to bring a civil action for damages suffered as a result of the
228 commission of any of the offenses under this section.
229 (b) This section does not create any civil cause of action based on electronic
230 communications made for legitimate business purposes.
231 Section 6. Section 76-9-202 is amended to read:
232 76-9-202. Emergency reporting -- Interference -- False report -- Penalties --
233 Reimbursement.
234 (1) As used in this section:
235 (a) "Emergency" means a situation in which property or human life is in jeopardy and
236 the prompt summoning of aid is essential to the preservation of human life or property.
237 (b) "Party line" means a subscriber's line or telephone circuit consisting of two or more
238 main telephone stations that are connected [
239 ring or telephone number.
240 (2) A person is guilty of emergency reporting abuse if [
241 (a) intentionally refuses to yield or surrender the use of a party line or a public pay
242 telephone to another person upon being informed that the telephone is needed to report a fire or
243 summon police, medical, or other aid in case of emergency, unless the telephone is likewise
244 being used for an emergency call;
245 (b) asks for or requests the use of a party line or a public pay telephone on the pretext
246 that an emergency exists, knowing that no emergency exists; [
247 (c) reports an emergency or causes an emergency to be reported to any public, private,
248 or volunteer entity whose purpose is to respond to fire, police, or medical emergencies, when
249 the [
250 (d) makes a false report to an emergency response service, including a law enforcement
251 dispatcher or a 911 emergency response service, or intentionally aids, abets, or causes a third
252 party to make the false report, and the false report:
253 (i) describes an ongoing emergency situation that as reported is causing or poses an
254 imminent threat of causing serious bodily injury, serious physical injury, or death; and
255 (ii) states that the emergency situation is occurring at a specified location.
256 (3) (a) A violation of Subsection (2)(a) or (b) is a class C misdemeanor.
257 (b) A violation of Subsection (2)(c) is a class B misdemeanor, except as provided
258 under Subsection (3)(c).
259 (c) A violation of Subsection (2)(c) is a second degree felony if the report is regarding a
260 weapon of mass destruction, as defined in Section 76-10-401.
261 (d) A violation of Subsection (2)(d):
262 (i) is a third degree felony; or
263 (ii) is a second degree felony if the emergency responders while acting in response to
264 the report cause physical injury to any resident or other person at the reported location.
265 (4) (a) In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, a court shall order any person
266 convicted of a violation of this section to reimburse:
267 (i) any federal, state, or local unit of government, or any private business, organization,
268 individual, or entity for all expenses and losses incurred in responding to the violation[
269
270 (ii) any person injured under Subsection (3)(d)(ii) for costs for the treatment of any
271 injury, including treatment for psychological injuries caused by the offense.
272 (b) The court may require that the defendant pay less than the reimbursements required
273 under Subsection (4)(a) only if the court states on the record the reasons why the
274 reimbursement would be inappropriate.
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel