SB 129 (Kuehl re: harassment by cellular and other devices) passed the Assembly Appropriations committee on consent today, with CALCASA support.
Under current law, telephone calls or electronic contacts that are threatening or obscene are a misdemeanor punishable by 6 months in county jail or $1000 fine or both, no matter where they are received. Repeated calls or electronic contacts made with intent to annoy is a misdemeanor punishable by 6 months in county jail or $1000 fine or both, only if made to a home or workplace. Contact made to cellular phones, by text message and by e-mail (including mobile e-mail messages) cannot be prosecuted under current law.
SB 129 brings California’s statute up to date by extending current law to include such calls or contacts, regardless of where they are received.