This bill amends Section 45-2-101 of the Montana Code Annotated by providing clear definitions for "reasonable apprehension of bodily injury" and "reasonable apprehension of serious bodily injury." The new legal language specifies that "reasonable apprehension of bodily injury" refers to a belief that bodily injury is imminent, even if it ultimately does not occur, and that this belief would be held by a reasonable person under similar circumstances. Similarly, "reasonable apprehension of serious bodily injury" is defined as a belief that serious bodily injury is imminent, with the same conditions regarding the reasonableness of the belief. The bill retains existing definitions related to bodily injury and serious bodily injury, ensuring a consistent legal framework for assessing apprehension of injury, which could impact various legal proceedings involving claims of imminent harm.

Additionally, the bill updates definitions within Montana's legal framework, clarifying terms related to property, threats, and legal proceedings. Key definitions include "State," which encompasses all land, water, and airspace under Montana's jurisdiction; "Statute," referring to acts of the legislature; and "Stolen property," defined as property obtained through theft. The bill also introduces a comprehensive definition of "Threat," outlining various forms of menacing behavior, and clarifies how to aggregate amounts involved in thefts committed as part of a common scheme when determining property value. These updates aim to enhance the clarity and applicability of legal definitions in Montana's statutes.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 45-2-101