Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Rhode Island General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-29. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
H8058 2026 -- H 8058 ======== LC005714 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- COMPUTER CRIME Introduced By: Representatives Caldwell, McEntee, Casimiro, Speakman, Donovan, Kislak, Spears, and Dawson Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: House Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Section 11-52-4.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-52 entitled Computer 2 Crime is hereby amended to read as follows: 3 11-52-4.2. Cyberstalking and cyberharassment prohibited. 4 (a) Whoever transmits any communication by computer or other electronic device to any 5 person or causes any person to be contacted for the sole purpose of harassing that person or his or 6 her family is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred 7 dollars ($500), by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. For the purpose of this section, 8 “harassing” means any knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person which 9 seriously alarms, annoys, or bothers the person, and which serves no legitimate purpose. The course 10 of conduct must be of a kind that would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional 11 distress, or be in fear of bodily injury. “Course of conduct” means a pattern of conduct composed 12 of a series of acts over a period of time, evidencing a continuity of purpose. Constitutionally 13 protected activity is not included within the meaning of “course of conduct.” 14 (b) A second or subsequent conviction under subsection (a) of this section shall be deemed 15 a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than two (2) years, by a fine of not more than 16 six thousand dollars ($6,000), or both. 1 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC005714 ======== LC005714 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- COMPUTER CRIME *** 1 This act would make it unnecessary to prove that a person s transmission of electronic 2 communications be for the sole purpose of harassment before being found guilty of cyberstalking 3 or cyberharassment. 4 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC005714 ======== LC005714 - Page 3 of 3
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