96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB0215


 
Introduced 1/20/2009, by Rep. Suzanne Bassi
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		








   



720 ILCS 5/12-7.7 new









    Amends the Criminal Code of 1961 to create the offense of
perpetual harassment.  Provides that purposely and repeatedly harassing
another person or following with the intent to harass another person
constitutes the offense.  Provides that a first conviction is a Class A misdemeanor and a second or subsequent conviction is a Class 4 felony if the offense was
committed against the same victim.
















LRB096 04239 RLC 14285 b

















CORRECTIONAL BUDGET AND IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
















 


 


A BILL FOR









 











HB0215

LRB096 04239 RLC 14285 b






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    AN ACT concerning criminal law.

 
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    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
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represented in the General Assembly:






 
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    Section 5.   The Criminal Code of 1961 is amended by adding 
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Section 12-7.7
as follows:


 



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    (720 ILCS 5/12-7.7 new)




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    Sec. 12-7.7. Perpetual harassment.

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    (a) A person commits perpetual harassment when he or she 
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purposely and
repeatedly
harasses another person or follows 
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another person with the
intent of harassing that person.

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    (b) Sentence.
Perpetual harassment is a Class A 
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misdemeanor. A second or subsequent
conviction for perpetual 
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harassment is a Class 4 felony if the offense was
committed 
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against the same victim.

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    (c) For the purposes of this Section,
"harass" means to 
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engage in a course of conduct directed at a
specific person 
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that serves no legitimate purpose, that would cause a

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reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress, 
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and that actually
causes substantial emotional distress to that 
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person.