Bill Text: MS HB176 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Utility Worker Protection Act; create.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2015-02-03 - Died In Committee [HB176 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2015-HB176-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Judiciary A
By: Representative Shirley
House Bill 176
AN ACT TO CREATE THE "UTILITY WORKER PROTECTION ACT"; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS; TO PROVIDE THE ELEMENTS OF CRIMINAL TAMPERING; TO PROVIDE THE PENALTIES FOR ANY VIOLATION OF THE ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Utility Worker Protection Act."
SECTION 2. For the purposes of this act, the following words and terms shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a) "Tamper" means to improperly interfere, meddle with or make an unwarranted alteration in the condition of property of another.
(b) "Property" means any tangible or intangible property, real or personal, public or private, and includes the commodities and services of a utility nature, such as gas, electricity, steam and water.
(c) "Utility" means an enterprise that may be publicly or privately owned which provides gas, electric, steam, water, sewage, transportation or communication services, cable and broadband services and any institution that provides health and safety protection or other public services.
SECTION 3. (1) A person commits criminal tampering if he or she does any of the following:
(a) Intentionally causes substantial interruption or impairment of a service rendered to the public by a utility when a person has no right to do so or has any reasonable ground to believe that he or she has such a right; or
(b) Threatens an individual with a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument with the intent to obstruct the operation of a utility. This paragraph only applies if the individual is working under the procedures and within the scope of his or her duties as an employee of the utility and has properly identified himself or herself when asked by stating his or her name, employer and purpose of work.
(2) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction he or she shall be committed to the Department of Corrections for a period of time not less than one (1) year, nor more than ten (10) years.
(3) The provisions of this section shall be in addition to other criminal laws, and actions taken pursuant to this section shall not bar prosecutions for other violations of criminal law.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
