The bill amends section 12.1-17-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, which addresses harassment. It expands the definition of harassment to include new forms of communication that can cause distress, specifically by adding a provision that makes it an offense to disclose an individual's personal identifying information through writing, electronic communication, or public internet postings. The bill also clarifies that harassment can occur through electronic means, and it specifies that offenses committed via electronic communication can be prosecuted in either the location where the communication was sent or received.

Additionally, the bill establishes that initiating communication with emergency services with the intent to annoy or harass is a punishable offense, and it holds individuals liable for costs incurred from unnecessary emergency responses. The penalties for harassment are classified as a class A misdemeanor for certain offenses, including the new provision regarding personal identifying information, while other offenses are classified as a class B misdemeanor. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen the legal framework surrounding harassment, particularly in the context of electronic communication.

Statutes affected:
Adopted by the House Judiciary Committee: 12.1-17-07
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 12.1-17-07
Enrollment: 12.1-17-07