(a) A person is guilty of interfering with the legislative process when he, alone or in concert with others, either by force, physical interference, fraud, intimidation or by means of any independently unlawful act, prevents or attempts to prevent any member, officer or employee of the General Assembly, either house thereof or any committee of the General Assembly or either house thereof, from performing any of his official functions, powers or duties.

(b) A person is guilty of coercing performance when he, alone or in concert with others, either by force, physical interference, fraud, intimidation or by means of any unlawful act, compels or induces any member, officer or employee of the General Assembly, either house thereof or any committee of the General Assembly or either house thereof to perform any acts as a member, officer or employee against his will.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 29-35 and 53-206, (1) a person, other than a state or local police officer, a member of the Office of State Capitol Police or a police officer of any other state or of the federal government, who is carrying out official duties in this state, or any person summoned by any such officer to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace while he is actually engaged in assisting such officer, while such officer is in the performance of his official duties or any member of the armed forces of the United States, as defined in section 27-103, or of the state, as defined in section 27-2, in the performance of official duties, or any veteran, as defined in section 27-103, performing in uniform as a member of an official ceremonial unit, is guilty of interfering with the legislative process when he, alone or in concert with others, brings into, or possesses within, any building in which the chamber of either house of the General Assembly is located or in which the official office of any member, officer or employee of the General Assembly or the office of any committee of the General Assembly or either house thereof is located or any building in which a committee of the General Assembly is holding a public hearing, any weapon, whether loaded or unloaded, from which a shot may be discharged, or a billy; and (2) any person is guilty of interfering with the legislative process when such person, alone or in concert with others, brings into, or possesses within, any such building, a switchblade, gravity knife, blackjack, bludgeon, metal knuckles or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument, or any explosive or incendiary or other dangerous device.

(d) The violation of any provision of this section is a class D felony.

(P.A. 73-516, S. 2; P.A. 82-264; P.A. 83-13, S. 2; P.A. 93-435, S. 25, 95; P.A. 96-219, S. 4; P.A. 16-193, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 82-264 expanded prohibition against firearms to include any weapon from which a shot may be discharged, a billy, switchblade, gravity knife, blackjack, bludgeon, metal knuckles or other dangerous weapon, or any explosive or incendiary device, included as exempt persons members of armed forces performing duties and veterans performing ceremonies and included as buildings subject to provisions those where general assembly committee is holding public hearing; P.A. 83-13 changed a reference to “security officer” in Subsec. (c) to “member of the office of the state capitol security”; P.A. 93-435 made a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective June 28, 1993; P.A. 96-219 amended Subsec. (c) by changing the name of the “Office of State Capitol Security” to the “Office of State Capitol Police”; P.A. 16-193 made technical changes in Subsec. (c).