Battery to or threatening a court employee or threatening damage to a courthouse and providing penalties

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, an individual who causes bodily harm to another individual is guilty of battery, which is a Class A misdemeanor. Current law provides more severe penalties for battery committed against certain public officials. For instance, an individual who intentionally causes, or threatens to cause, bodily harm to a judge is guilty of a Class H felony. Under this bill, an individual is guilty of a Class I felony if he or she intentionally causes, or threatens to cause, bodily harm to a court employee, which includes circuit court clerks and their employees, employees of the supreme court, district attorneys and deputy and assistant district attorneys, and state public defenders, who is acting in his or her official capacity or if the act or threat is in response to an action he or she has taken in an official capacity. Also under this bill, an individual is guilty of a Class I felony if he or she threatens to cause damage to a courthouse and if the threatened action could result in bodily harm to a judge or court employee.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to result if the bill is enacted.

Who's behind it

7 representatives are its authors⁠. 5 are Democrats and 2 are Republicans.

1 more lawmaker signed on in support⁠.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

• Amendment AA1-AB424
• Amendment AA2-AB424
• LC Amendment Memo