HB54 Summary

• Establishes the crime of "interference with public safety communication," defined as any radio signal, electronic transmission, telephone communication, or broadcast intended for law enforcement, fire service, 911 personnel, or emergency personnel.

• Makes it illegal to knowingly and intentionally displace, damage, remove, injure, tamper with, destroy, or render inoperable any public safety communication equipment, transmitters, receivers, towers, antennas, cables, poles, computer equipment, or related infrastructure.

• Prohibits knowingly and intentionally interfering with transmission or reception of public safety communications to hinder agency duties, and prohibits operating equipment that disrupts public safety communications or intercepting encrypted public safety transmissions.

• Exempts certified law enforcement officers, public safety employees acting in official capacity, persons with written agency permission, utility personnel, and wireless telecommunications carrier employees acting within scope of duties.

• Classifies the offense as a Class C Felony and requires law enforcement to seize equipment used in violation, with courts ordering destruction or forfeiture upon conviction.