Substitute House Bill No. 7299 Summary

• Expands stalking definitions to include electronic and social media conduct, and adds "emotional distress" as a qualifying harm alongside fear for physical safety (effective October 1, 2017).

• Creates new strangulation or suffocation offenses in three degrees (first degree as class C felony, second degree as class D felony, third degree as class A misdemeanor) and adds suffocation by obstructing nose or mouth to existing strangulation charges.

• Enhances penalties for violation of conditions of release by making violations involving restraint or threats/harassment/assault against a person a class C felony (first degree violations) or class D felony (second degree violations), rather than lower misdemeanor classifications.

• Requires presentence investigations for all felony convictions involving family violence under section 46b-38a and prohibits defendants from waiving such investigations in family violence cases.