BILL NUMBER:  S6847

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to computer tampering


 PURPOSE :
To elevate all computer tampering offenses by one degree in severity.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
Section 1 amends section 156.20 of the penal law elevating computer
tampering in the fourth degree from a class A misdemeanor to a class E
felony.

Section 2 amends section 156.25 of the penal law elevating computer
tampering in the third degree from a class E felony to a class D
felony.

Section 3 amends section 156.26 of the penal law elevating computer
tampering in the second degree from a class D felony to a class C
felony.

Section 1 amends section 156.27 of the penal law elevating computer
tampering in the first degree from a class C felony to a class B
felony.

              

 JUSTIFICATION :
Computers are part of everyone's daily life and they help us in
performing many tasks including: paying bills, banking, signing up for
classes at the University, shopping and other business transactions.
Computers are a major component of information sharing, storage and
maintenance technology in virtually all business and governmental
institutions. With the increase use of computers and the World Wide
Web to process information, there are criminals that attempt to
maliciously disrupt computer systems with computer viruses and to
steal our personal information for criminal use. As states across the
nation have redefined their criminal laws to account for the fluid and
ever-changing world of technology, computer crimes cost businesses,
financial institutions and individuals millions of dollars every year.
This bill strengthens our penal law by increasing the computer
tampering penalties so that the punishment fits the crime.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
New bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become law.