COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Victims of cyberstalking and othertechnology-based harassment would get
better protection under a proposalapproved by the Ohio House.The bill, passed Wednesday withoverwhelming
support, makes it illegal to urge or incite menacing bystalking through any written communication, including
electronic forms.It also includes any written or verbal graphic gestures.The billalso prohibits a person
from knowingly causing someone to think theoffender will cause his or her immediate family physical or
mental harm.Ohio prosecutors and the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio support it,the Columbus Dispatch
reported (http://bit.ly/IFgHM6 ).StateRep. Marlene
Anielski, a Republican from Walton Hills, shared the storyWednesday of a constituent who suffered through
electronic harassmentby a neighbor without any legal recourse.The woman said shereceived hundreds of
threatening emails and faxes, and was shown on awebsite that featured a picture of her and her husband
hanging ineffigy. She told a House committee she was terrified and couldn’t domuch about it."The bill
brings our current laws on menacing andstalking up to date and will provide more peace of mind to the
victimsand families of those who have experienced these terrible situations,"Anielski said.The bill now
goes to the Senate.___Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.comCopyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.