Assault and battery: utility workers.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on what constitutes a 'utility worker' or how this bill will be enforced in practice.

Protecting Utility Workers from Assault and Battery

The bill makes it illegal to assault or batter utility workers while they are doing their jobs, with penalties including jail time and fines.

What This Bill Does

• Makes assaulting or battering a utility worker during work punishable by up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $2,000, or both.

Who It Names or Affects

• Utility workers who are doing their jobs
• People who commit assaults or batteries against utility workers

Terms To Know

Assault

An attempt to hurt someone that shows you have the ability to do it right now.

Battery

Using force or violence on someone without their permission.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify which local agencies will be affected by this new law.
• It is unclear how the penalties for assault and battery against utility workers will be enforced in practice.

Official Summary Text

SB 1330, as introduced, Arreguín.
Assault and battery: utility workers.
Existing law defines an assault as an unlawful attempt, coupled with present ability, to commit a violent injury upon the person of another. Existing law defines a battery as any willful and unlawful use of force or violence upon the person of another. Under existing law, an assault or battery committed against specified professionals engaged in the performance of their duties, including peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel, is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, by a fine not exceeding $2,000, or by both that fine and imprisonment.
This bill would make an assault or battery committed against a utility worker, as defined, who is engaged in the performance of their duties punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, by a fine not exceeding $2,000, or by both that fine
and imprisonment. By expanding the scope of these crimes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF