Stalking.

Under existing law, any person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or willfully and maliciously harasses another person and who makes a credible threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear for his or her safety, or the safety of his or her immediate family, is guilty of the crime of stalking, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or by both that fine and imprisonment, or by imprisonment in the state prison. Existing law provides that a person who violates these provisions after having been convicted of certain other crimes is subject to additional punishment, as specified. This bill would instead provide that a person is guilty of the crime of stalking when that person makes a credible threat and willfully engages in a course of conduct, as defined, directed at a specific person or group of persons and knows or should have known that the course of conduct would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of his or her immediate family. For those purposes, the bill would include in the definition of "immediate family" a domesticated pet. By changing the definition of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.