HCS HB 1152 -- TERRORISM

SPONSOR:  Jackson (Wilson, 130)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Homeland
Security and Veterans Affairs by a vote of 18 to 0.

This substitute creates the crimes of threatening the use of a
weapon of mass destruction and computer dissemination of
information to promote a terrorist act.  The substitute defines
"threat," "weapon of mass destruction," and "terrorist act."
Threatening the use of a weapon of mass destruction is a class C
felony for the first offense and a class B felony for second and
subsequent offenses.  Computer dissemination of information to
promote a terrorist act is a class B felony.

The substitute also revises the crime of making a terrorist
threat to include threatening conditions that cause serious
public inconvenience or terror.  The threat may be made by any
means.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of Less than
$100,000 in FY 2005, FY 2006, and FY 2007.  No impact on Other
State Funds in FY 2005, FY 2006, and FY 2007.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that state laws concerning terrorism
need to be strengthened in order to take into account various
acts of terrorism, including disseminating terrorist information
through computer networks, releasing hazardous substances, and
committing terrorist acts which cause a serious public
inconvenience and damage or destroy vital infrastructures located
in a community.  Changing state laws concerning terrorism will
allow law enforcement officials and the courts to prosecute
violators.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Wilson (130); and Ron
Doerge, Sheriff of Newton County.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Joseph Deering, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:14 am