2003-02-12                     House Journal                      Page 0181
     CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 12(JUD)                                                                  
     "An Act relating to the crime of harassment committed by use of                                
     electronic communication."                                                                     
                                                                                                    
The report was signed by Representative McGuire, Chair, with the                                    
following individual recommendations:                                                               
                                                                                                    
Do pass (5):  Holm, Anderson, Gruenberg, Coghill, McGuire                                           
                                                                                                    
A House Judiciary Committee letter of intent for CSHB 12(JUD),                                      
signed by Representative McGuire, Chair, follows:                                                   
                                                                                                    
"It is the intent of the House Judiciary Committee that the term                                    
'electronic communication,' as it is used in AS 11.61.120(a), amended                               
by CSHB 12(JUD), means any transfer of signs, signals, writing,                                     
images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in                                  
whole or in part by, but not limited to, the following forms of direct                              
communication:  electronic mail and text messages displayed by                                      
cellular, cordless, or digital telephones, or other electronic media.  It is                        
the intent of this committee to provide the most reasonable and                                     
common sense definition of 'electronic communication' as it pertains                                
to methods of harassment.  As computer technologies evolve,                                         
communication will advance as well.  By declining to limit and                                      
narrowly define methods of 'electronic communication,' this body is                                 
allowing for future methods of technology to be incorporated into the                               
definition."                                                                                        
                                                                                                    
The following fiscal note(s) apply to CSHB 12(JUD):                                                 
                                                                                                    
1.  Zero, Dept. of Law                                                                              
2.  Zero, Dept. of Public Safety                                                                    
3.  Indeterminate, Dept. of Administration                                                          
                                                                                                    
HB 12 was referred to the Rules Committee for placement on the                                      
calendar.                                                                                           
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
HB 52                                                                                             
The State Affairs Committee has considered: