Bill Text: CT HB06258 | 2017 | General Assembly | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: An Act Concerning Intimidation On Account Of Occupation As A Public Safety Employee.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-04-25 - No Action [HB06258 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2017-HB06258-Comm_Sub.html

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General Assembly		Committee Bill No. 6258
January Session, 2017		LCO No. 3944
		*_____HB06258PS____030917____*
Referred to Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY
Introduced by:
(PS)

AN ACT CONCERNING INTIMIDATION ON ACCOUNT OF OCCUPATION AS A PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 53a-181i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):

For the purposes of sections 53a-181j to 53a-181l, inclusive, as amended by this act:

(1) "Disability" means physical disability, mental disability or intellectual disability;

(2) "Gender identity or expression" means a person's gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's assigned sex at birth;

(3) "Mental disability" means one or more mental disorders, as defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders";

(4) "Intellectual disability" has the same meaning as provided in section 1-1g; [and]

(5) "Physical disability" means any chronic physical handicap, infirmity or impairment, whether congenital or resulting from bodily injury, organic processes or changes or from illness, including, but not limited to, blindness, epilepsy, deafness or hearing impairment or reliance on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device; and

(6) "Public safety employee" means a reasonably identifiable police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, firefighter, as defined in section 7-313g, or emergency medical technician, as defined in section 19a-175.

Sec. 2. Section 53a-181j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):

(a) A person is guilty of intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the first degree when such person maliciously, and with specific intent to intimidate or harass another person because of the actual or perceived race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression of such other person or because of such other person's duties as a public safety employee, causes serious physical injury to such other person or to a third person.

(b) Intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the first degree is a class C felony.

Sec. 3. Section 53a-181k of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):

(a) A person is guilty of intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the second degree when such person maliciously, and with specific intent to intimidate or harass another person because of the actual or perceived race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression of such other person or because of such other person's duties as a public safety employee, does any of the following: (1) Causes physical contact with such other person, (2) damages, destroys or defaces any real or personal property of such other person, or (3) threatens, by word or act, to do an act described in subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection, if there is reasonable cause to believe that an act described in subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection will occur.

(b) Intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the second degree is a class D felony.

Sec. 4. Section 53a-181l of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2017):

(a) A person is guilty of intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the third degree when such person, with specific intent to intimidate or harass another person or group of persons because of the actual or perceived race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression of such other person or persons or because of such other person's or persons' duties as public safety employees: (1) Damages, destroys or defaces any real or personal property, or (2) threatens, by word or act, to do an act described in subdivision (1) of this subsection or advocates or urges another person to do an act described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, if there is reasonable cause to believe that an act described in said subdivision will occur.

(b) Intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the third degree is a class A misdemeanor.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	October 1, 2017	53a-181i
Sec. 2	October 1, 2017	53a-181j
Sec. 3	October 1, 2017	53a-181k
Sec. 4	October 1, 2017	53a-181l

PS

Joint Favorable