Prohibiting certain computer messages or postings that invite harassment or obscene, lewd, or profane communication and providing a penalty. (FE)

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, a person who engages in certain conduct intended to harass or intimidate another is subject to a Class B forfeiture, which is a forfeiture of up to $1,000. If he or she engages in harassing or intimidating conduct while subject to a restraining order and the conduct is accompanied by a credible threat that places the victim in fear of death or great bodily harm, he or she is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000, confinement in jail for up to nine months, or both. Also under current law, a person who makes a telephone call or sends a message over a computer system with intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten, abuse, or harass the recipient and who threatens to injure the recipient is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, confinement in jail for up to 90 days, or both. A person is also guilty of a Class B misdemeanor if he or she makes a telephone call or sends a message over a computer system with intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten, or abuse the recipient and either the call or message uses obscene, lewd, or profane language or suggests a lascivious act or the call or message is made with intent to prevent disclosure of the actor's identity.

Under this bill, a person is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor if he or she sends, posts, or displays a message on a computerized communication that invites another person to harass a third person or that invites another person to contact the third person using obscene, lewd, or profane language or suggesting a lewd or lascivious act. Under the bill, a person is guilty of inviting harassment if all of the following apply: 1) the person sends, posts, or displays a message on a computerized communication system; 2) the message invites another person to contact a specified victim; 3) the person's message includes information on how to contact the victim; 4) the person intends that the victim be harassed, frightened, intimidated, threatened, or abused by the contact from the other person; 5) the person intends that the contact from the other person serve no legitimate purpose; and 6) as a result of the message, another person contacts the victim and the victim is harassed, frightened, intimidated, threatened, or abused by the contact. Under the bill, a person is guilty of inviting obscene, lewd, or profane contact if all of the following apply: 1) the person sends, posts, or displays a message on a computerized communication system; 2) the message invites another person to contact a specified victim using obscene, lewd, or profane language or suggesting a lewd or lascivious act; 3) the person's message includes information on how to contact the victim; 4) the person intends the victim to be harassed, frightened, intimidated, threatened, or abused by the contact from the other person; and 5) as a result of the person's message, another person contacts the victim using obscene, lewd, or profane language or suggesting a lewd or lascivious act and the victim is harassed, frightened, intimidated, threatened, or abused by the contact.

Who's behind it

11 lawmakers are its authors⁠. All 11 are Republicans.

1 more lawmaker signed on in support⁠.