Signed by Governor Greg Gianforte

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases penalties for assaulting a peace or judicial officer.

Highlights:

• Specifies a person commits the offense of assault on a peace officer or judicial officer if the person purposely or knowingly causes (Sec. 1-1):

• Bodily injury to a peace officer or judicial officer;

• Reasonable apprehension of serious bodily injury in a peace officer or judicial officer by use of:

• A weapon; or

• What reasonably appears to be a weapon;

• Bodily injury to a peace officer or judicial officer with a weapon; or

• Serious bodily injury to a peace officer or judicial officer.

• Establishes the following penalties for a person convicted of assault on a peace officer or judicial officer:

• Under subsection (1)(a), (1)(b)(I), or (1)(c) they will be imprisoned in the state prison for a term of not less than 2 years or more than 10 years and may be fined an amount not to exceed $50,000; or

• Under subsection (1)(b)(ii) they will be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 10 years and may be fined an amount not to exceed $50,000.

• Establishes a person convicted of assault on a peace officer or judicial officer under subsection (1)(d) will be fined an amount not to exceed $50,000 or be imprisoned in the state prison for a term of not less than 5 years or more than 20 years, or both (Sec. 1-2.b).

• Specifies criminal endangerment, negligent endangerment, and assault, are not included as offenses of assault on a peace officer or judicial officer (Sec. 1-4).

Full Bill Text