HOUSE BILL NO. 697
INTRODUCED BY S. SALES
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT SUBSTITUTING A GENERAL MALICIOUS INTIMIDATION OR HARASSMENT CRIME FOR THE CRIME OF MALICIOUS INTIMIDATION OR HARASSMENT BECAUSE OF A PERSON'S RACE, CREED, RELIGION, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, OR INVOLVEMENT IN CIVIL OR HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVITIES; AMENDING SECTION 45-5-221, MCA; AND REPEALING SECTION 45-5-222, MCA."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 45-5-221, MCA, is amended to read:
"45-5-221. Malicious intimidation or harassment relating to civil or human rights -- penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of malicious intimidation or harassment when, because of another person's race, creed, religion, color, national origin, or involvement in civil rights or human rights activities, he the person purposely or knowingly, with the intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, or harass, annoy, or offend:
(a) causes bodily injury to another;
(b) causes reasonable apprehension of bodily injury in another; or
(c) damages, destroys, or defaces any property of another or any public property.
(2) For purposes of this section, "deface" includes but is not limited to cross burning or the placing of any word or symbol commonly associated with racial, religious, or ethnic identity or activities on the property of another person without his or her permission.
(3)(2) A person convicted of the offense of malicious intimidation or harassment shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 5 years or be fined an amount not to exceed $5,000, or both."
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Repealer. Section 45-5-222, MCA, is repealed.
- END -
Latest Version of HB 697 (HB0697.01)
Processed for the Web on February 18, 2003 (4:38pm)
New language in a bill appears underlined, deleted material appears stricken.
Sponsor names are handwritten on introduced bills, hence do not appear on the bill until it is reprinted.
See the status of this bill for the bill's primary sponsor.
Status of this Bill | 2003 Legislature | Leg.
Branch Home
All versions of this bill in PDF
Authorized print version w/line numbers (PDF format)
Prepared by Montana Legislative Services
(406) 444-3064