THE BILL ITSELF
HB 1353
Harassment and Cyberstalking
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to harassment and cyberstalking;
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amending s. 784.048, F.S.; revising the definitions of
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the terms "harass" and "cyberstalk"; reenacting ss.
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784.0493(1) and 1006.147(3)(e), F.S., relating to
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harassment or intimidation based on religious or
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ethnic heritage and bullying and harassment prohibited
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in public K-12 education, respectively; providing an
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effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (1) of
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section 784.048, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
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784.048 Stalking; definitions; penalties.—
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(1) As used in this section, the term:
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(a) "Harass" means to engage in a course of conduct
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directed at a specific person, whether such person is
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specifically named or described in sufficient detail as to be
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clearly identifiable, which causes substantial emotional
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distress to that person and serves no legitimate purpose.
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(d) "Cyberstalk" means:
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1. To engage in a course of conduct to communicate, or to
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cause to be communicated, directly or indirectly, words, images,
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or language by or through the use of electronic mail or
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electronic communication, directed at or pertaining to a
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specific person, whether such person is specifically named or
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described in sufficient detail as to be clearly identifiable; or
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2. To access, or attempt to access, the online accounts or
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Internet-connected home electronic systems of another person
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without that person's permission,
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causing substantial emotional distress to that person and
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serving no legitimate purpose.
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Section 2. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
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made by this act to section 784.048, Florida Statutes, in a
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reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 784.0493, Florida
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Statutes, is reenacted to read:
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784.0493 Harassment or intimidation based on religious or
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ethnic heritage.—
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(1) As used in this section, the terms "credible threat"
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and "harass" have the same meaning as in s. 784.048(1).
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Section 3. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
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made by this act to section 784.048, Florida Statutes, in a
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reference thereto, paragraph (e) of subsection (3) of section
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1006.147, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
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1006.147 Bullying and harassment prohibited.—
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(3) For purposes of this section:
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(e) Definitions in s. 815.03 and the definition in s.
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784.048(1)(d) relating to stalking are applicable to this
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section.
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Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.