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

1     AN ACT concerning criminal law.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Criminal Code of 1961 is amended by adding
5 Section 12-7.7 as follows:
 
6     (720 ILCS 5/12-7.7 new)
7     Sec. 12-7.7. Perpetual harassment.
8     (a) A person commits perpetual harassment when he or she
9 purposely and repeatedly harasses another person or follows
10 another person with the intent of harassing that person.
11     (b) Sentence. Perpetual harassment is a Class A
12 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent conviction for perpetual
13 harassment is a Class 4 felony if the offense was committed
14 against the same victim.
15     (c) For the purposes of this Section, "harass" means to
16 engage in a course of conduct directed at a specific person
17 that serves no legitimate purpose, that would cause a
18 reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress,
19 and that actually causes substantial emotional distress to that
20 person.