SB66 Summary

• Amends Alabama Code Sections 13A-7-24 and 13A-7-25 to expand the definition and criminal penalties for tampering with utilities and utility employees.

• Expands the definition of "utility" to explicitly include cable and broadband services, in addition to existing utilities like gas, electric, water, sewage, transportation, and communication services.

• Creates a new criminal offense making it illegal to threaten a utility employee with a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument with intent to obstruct utility operations, provided the employee is working within their scope of duties and has properly identified themselves.

• Maintains criminal tampering in the first degree as a Class C felony for causing substantial interruption or impairment of utility services without authorization.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and Governor approval.