HBA-AMW H.B. 151 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 151 By: Villarreal, Mike Criminal Jurisprudence 4/6/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Concerns have been raised regarding use of the Internet, electronic mail, and other electronic devices to harass individuals. Under current law, the offense of harassment includes communication initiated by telephone or writing. However, the offense of harassment does not include communication by electronic mail, electronic facsimile, or by another electronic device. House Bill 151 provides that a person commits an offense if the person uses electronic communication with the intent to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, or embarrass another and in the course of the communication makes a comment, request, suggestion, or proposal that is obscene. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 151 amends the Penal Code to provide that a person commits an offense if the person uses electronic communication with the intent to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, or embarrass another and in the course of the communication makes a comment, request, suggestion, or proposal that is obscene. The bill defines "electronic communication" to include a communication initiated by electronic mail, facsimile machine, or by any other electronic device. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.