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  81R477 KEL-D
 
  By: McCall H.B. No. 2003
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the offense of online harassment.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 33, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Section 33.07 to read as follows:
         Sec. 33.07.  ONLINE HARASSMENT. (a) A person commits an
  offense if the person uses the name or persona of another person to
  create a web page on or to post one or more messages on a commercial
  social networking site:
               (1)  without obtaining the other person's consent; and
               (2)  with the intent to harass, embarrass, intimidate,
  or threaten any person.
         (b)  A person commits an offense if the person sends an
  electronic mail, instant message, text message, or similar
  communication that references a name, domain address, phone number,
  or other item of identifying information belonging to any person:
               (1)  without obtaining the other person's consent; and
               (2)  with the intent to cause a recipient of the
  communication to reasonably believe that the other person
  authorized or transmitted the communication.
         (c)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor,
  except that the offense is a felony of the third degree if the actor
  commits the offense with the intent to harm or defraud another.
         (d)  If conduct that constitutes an offense under this
  section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor
  may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.
         (e)  In this section:
               (1)  "Commercial social networking site" means any
  business, organization, or other similar entity operating a website
  that permits persons to become registered users for the purpose of
  establishing personal relationships with other users through
  direct or real-time communication with other users or the creation
  of web pages or profiles available to the public or to other users.
  The term does not include an electronic mail program or a message
  board program.
               (2)  "Identifying information" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 32.51.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.