Bill Text: HI HB796 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To The Assault Of A Utility Worker.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-01-17 - Re-Referred to JDC. [HB796 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-HB796-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
796 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE ASSAULT OF A UTILITY WORKER.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. With increased frequency, utility workers across the nation are the victims of assault and aggression. In particular, the personal safety of field representatives who read and repair meters, line crew workers who respond to power outages, and billing representatives who accept payments or disconnect and reconnect meters are threatened. Nationwide, it has been reported that utility workers have been shot, stabbed, and, in some cases, killed while performing their official job duties.
As part of their normal job duties, utility workers are often put in situations where customers are irate for reasons beyond the workers' control, such as power outages and service disconnects, resulting in a potential for confrontation between the worker and customer. In addition, as utility workers are often working on or with systems that are inherently dangerous, any distraction has the potential to lead to serious injury or death.
It is currently a felony to cause injury to peace officers, police officers, firefighters, or emergency medical workers with the intent to prevent them from performing their duties. The purpose of this Act is to establish the offense of assault against a utility worker as a class C felony.
SECTION 2. Chapter 707, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§707- Assault against a utility worker. (1) A person commits the offense of assault against a utility worker, if the person:
(a) Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes serious or substantial bodily injury to a utility worker who is engaged in the lawful performance of the utility worker's duties; or
(b) Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury with a dangerous instrument to a utility worker who is engaged in the lawful performance of the utility worker's duties.
(2) For purposes of this section "utility worker" means an employee of a government or private entity that provides utility services to the general public, including electricity, water, wastewater, natural or synthetic gas, telephone, cable communications, or road maintenance services.
(3) Assault against a utility worker is a class C felony."
SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Assault of Utility Worker; Felony
Description:
Establishes a class C felony for an assault against a utility worker that causes serious or substantial bodily injury or an assault against a utility worker with a dangerous instrument that causes bodily injury. (HB796 HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
