Campus threats, attacks, and certain insults would carry felony penalties

People who commit assault or battery on a school campus would face felony penalties. These offenses cover conduct against another person on a school campus. The bill does not define which places count as a school campus. Assault includes attempted attacks, conduct that causes reasonable fear of an immediate attack, and insults about someone's honor, sensitivity, or reputation. Battery means intentional rude or angry touching or force. Aggravated battery requires intent to injure someone. Aggravated assault includes attacks with deadly weapons, threats while disguised to hide identity, and intentional assaults aimed at committing a felony. Aggravated assault would be a third-degree felony. Aggravated battery has overlapping third-degree and second-degree penalty rules.

People who assault or batter public school employees doing their jobs would face specified felony penalties. Covered people include public school board members, administrators, teachers, and other board employees while they perform their duties. Assault includes attempted attacks or conduct that causes reasonable fear of an immediate attack. Assault and intentional rude or angry touching would be third-degree felonies. Aggravated assault includes attacks with deadly weapons, threats while disguised to hide identity, and intentional assaults aimed at committing a felony. Aggravated battery requires intent to injure. It would be a second-degree felony when it causes great bodily harm, uses a deadly weapon, or involves force capable of causing great bodily harm or death.

Youths ages 15–18 facing specified campus charges would fall within the definition of a serious youthful offender. This covers people ages 15–18. A serious youthful offender is a legal category in the state's youth justice law. The youth must be charged and either formally indicted or sent forward for trial. The campus charges include assault, aggravated assault, battery, and aggravated battery.