A bill for an act relating to assaults on persons engaged in certain occupations and harassment against public utility employees or contractors, and making penalties applicable.

This bill increases penalties for assaults against public utility employees or contractors while they're performing job duties, such as during service calls or maintenance. It classifies certain assaults as a class C felony (if the attacker knew the victim was a utility worker and intended serious harm), a class D felony (if injury occurs), or an aggravated misdemeanor (including acts like spitting), with a mandatory minimum 7-day jail term for the misdemeanor level. The law specifically expands existing protections for essential workers - like police, firefighters, and healthcare staff - to cover public utility workers during work. It applies to assaults committed with knowledge of the victim's occupation, aiming to deter violence against these frontline workers.