CT HB05297

Adds "public safety employee" as a protected class under intimidation based on bigotry or bias statutes, defining the term to include state police, local police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians.

Amends three degrees of intimidation offenses to include acts motivated by knowledge that the victim is a public safety employee, alongside existing protections based on race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

First degree intimidation (class C felony) applies when a person causes serious physical injury motivated by the victim being a public safety employee.

Second degree intimidation (class D felony) applies when a person causes physical contact, damages property, or makes threats motivated by the victim being a public safety employee.

Third degree intimidation (class A misdemeanor) applies when a person damages property or makes threats motivated by victims being public safety employees.

All amendments take effect October 1, 2017.