Report Title:

Harassment

Description:

Provides that harassment includes all digital communications.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	615
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HARASSMENT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 711-1106, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (1) to read as follows:

     "(1)  A person commits the offense of harassment if, with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm any other person, that person:

    (a)   Strikes, shoves, kicks, or otherwise touches another person in an offensive manner or subjects the other person to offensive physical contact;

    (b)   Insults, taunts, or challenges another person in a manner likely to provoke an immediate violent response or that would cause the other person to reasonably believe that the actor intends to cause bodily injury to the recipient or another or damage to the property of the recipient or another;

    (c)   Repeatedly makes telephone calls, facsimile, or any form of digital communication, including but not limited to electronic mail transmissions, without purpose of legitimate communication;

    (d)   Repeatedly makes a communication anonymously or at an extremely inconvenient hour;

    (e)   Repeatedly makes communications, after being advised by the person to whom the communication is directed that further communication is unwelcome; or

    (f)   Makes a communication using offensively coarse language that would cause the recipient to reasonably believe that the actor intends to cause bodily injury to the recipient or another or damage to the property of the recipient or another."

     SECTION 2.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________