S.F. 287 Section 1. Section 720.4, Code 2023, is amended to read as 1 follows: 2 720.4 Tampering with witnesses or jurors. 3 A It shall be unlawful for a person who offers to offer any 4 bribe to any person who the offeror believes has been or may be 5 summoned as a witness or juror in any judicial or arbitration 6 proceeding, or any legislative hearing, or who makes to make 7 any threats toward such person or who forcibly or fraudulently 8 detains detain or restrains restrain such person, with the 9 intent to improperly influence such witness or juror with 10 respect to the witness’ or juror’s testimony or decision in 11 such case, or to prevent such person from testifying or serving 12 in such case, or who, in retaliation for anything lawfully 13 done by any witness or juror in any case, harasses to harass 14 such witness or juror , . A person who violates this section 15 commits an aggravated misdemeanor a public offense that shall 16 be classified and punished as an offense one degree higher 17 than the underlying offense, but in no case shall the public 18 offense be classified and punished lower than an aggravated 19 misdemeanor . 20 EXPLANATION 21 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 22 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 23 This bill relates to tampering with witnesses or jurors, and 24 provides penalties. 25 Current law provides that a person who tampers with a witness 26 or juror commits an aggravated misdemeanor. An aggravated 27 misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than two 28 years and a fine of at least $855 but not more than $8,540. 29 The bill provides that a person who tampers with a witness 30 or juror commits a public offense that shall be classified and 31 punished as an offense one degree higher than the underlying 32 offense. In no case shall the public offense be classified and 33 punished lower than an aggravated misdemeanor. 34 -1- LSB 1846SV (2) 90 as/rh 1/ 1