SB 697

Under current law, a person who intentionally causes bodily harm to another

person commits simple battery and is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Current law

increases the penalty for battery under special circumstances. For instance, if a

person who is committed to a facility as a sexually violent person commits battery

against an officer, employee, agent, visitor, or other resident of the facility, the person

is guilty of a Class H felony. This bill adds that a person who is placed in a facility

awaiting a commitment trial as a sexually violent person is also guilty of a Class H

felony if he or she commits battery against an officer, employee, agent, visitor, or

other resident of the facility.

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.