MT Bill to add sexual orientation to hate crime list

2005 Montana Legislature
UNAPPROVED DRAFT BILL -- Subject to Change Without Notice!
About Bill -- Links
BILL NO.
INTRODUCED BY
(Primary Sponsor)
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT INCLUDING SEXUAL ORIENTATION, DISABILITY, AND GENDER WITHIN THE CRIME OF MALICIOUS INTIMIDATION OR HARASSMENT; AND AMENDING SECTION 45-5-221, MCA."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 45-5-221, MCA, is amended to read:
"45-5-221. Malicious intimidation or harassment relating to civil or human rights -- penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of malicious intimidation or harassment when, because of another person's race, creed, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, gender, or involvement in civil rights or human rights activities, he the person purposely or knowingly, with the intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy, or offend:
(a) causes bodily injury to another;
(b) causes reasonable apprehension of bodily injury in another; or
(c) damages, destroys, or defaces any property of another or any public property.
(2) For purposes of this section, "deface" includes but is not limited to cross burning or the placing of any word or symbol commonly associated with racial, religious, or ethnic identity or activities on the property of another person without his or her the property owner's permission.
(3) A person convicted of the offense of malicious intimidation or harassment shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 5 years or be fined an amount not to exceed $5,000, or both."
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