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As Introduced
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session
S. B. No. 355
2025-2026
Senators Smith, Cirino
Cosponsors: Senators Brenner, Ingram
To
amend section 2903.21 of the Revised Code
to
expand the offense of aggravated menacing to prohibit threatening a
utility worker, cable operator worker, or broadband worker with
intent to obstruct the operation of a utility.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1.
That
section 2903.21 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:
Sec.
2903.21.
(A)
No person shall knowingly cause another to believe that the offender
will cause serious physical harm to the person or property of the
other person, the other person's unborn, or a member of the other
person's immediate family. In addition to any other basis for the
other person's belief that the offender will cause serious physical
harm to the person or property of the other person, the other
person's unborn, or a member of the other person's immediate family,
the other person's belief may be based on words or conduct of the
offender that are directed at or identify a corporation, association,
or other organization that employs the other person or to which the
other person belongs.
(B)
Whoever
No
person shall knowingly cause a utility worker, cable operator worker,
or broadband worker to believe that the offender will cause serious
physical harm to the worker or to property by threatening the utility
worker, cable operator worker, or broadband worker with a deadly
weapon when the offender knows or has reasonable cause to know the
worker's profession, the worker is engaged in the performance of the
worker's duties, and the offender's intent is to obstruct the
operation of a utility, cable, or broadband service.
(C)
Whoever
violates
this section is guilty of aggravated menacing.
Except
(1)
Except
as
otherwise provided in
this
division
divisions
(C)(2) and (3) of this section
,
aggravated menacing is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
If
(2)
If
the
victim of the offense is an officer or employee of a public children
services agency or a private child placing agency and the offense
relates to the officer's or employee's performance or anticipated
performance of official responsibilities or duties, aggravated
menacing
committed
in violation of division (A) of this section
is
a felony of the fifth degree or, if the offender previously has been
convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense of violence, the victim
of that prior offense was an officer or employee of a public children
services agency or private child placing agency, and that prior
offense related to the officer's or employee's performance or
anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties, a
felony of the fourth degree.
(3)
If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to
aggravated menacing, aggravated menacing committed in violation of
division (B) of this section is a felony of the fifth degree.
(C)
(D)
As
used in this section
,
"organization"
:
(1)
"Broadband worker" means an employee, contractor, or agent
of a person or entity, whether publicly or privately owned, that
operates or maintains facilities that provide broadband services.
(2)
"Cable operator worker" means an employee, contractor, or
agent of a cable operator.
(3)
"Cable operator" has the same meaning as in section 1332.21
of the Revised Code, whether publicly or privately owned.
(4)
"Organization"
includes
an entity that is a governmental employer.
(5)
"Utility worker" means an employee, contractor, or agent of
a person or entity whose primary responsibility is the operation or
maintenance of a utility.
(6)
"Utility" means an enterprise that provides gas, electric,
steam, water, sewage, storm water, transportation, or communications
services, whether publicly or privately owned.
Section
2.
That
existing section 2903.21 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.