C.R.S.
Section 29-34-101
Bullying, harassment, and intimidation
- local elected official
- social media
- legislative declaration
- definitions
(1)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(a)
The general assembly finds and declares that the private social media administered by a local elected official or designee is a private account and does not create a public forum;(b)
A local elected official has no duty to create or maintain private social media and no state law, ordinance, or regulation compels creation or maintenance of private social media by a local elected official; and(c)
Therefore, the general assembly determines that it is appropriate to acknowledge in law that a local elected official or designee has discretion to restrict or remove a user of private social media that is administered by the local elected official or designee for any reason, including bullying, harassment, or intimidation of other users of the private social media administered by the local elected official or designee.(2)
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:(a)
“Bullying” means intending to coerce or cause any physical, mental, or emotional harm to any individual by written expression, an electronic act or gesture, or a pattern of behavior.(b)
“Harassment” means:(I)
Directly or indirectly initiating communication with an individual or directing language toward another individual, anonymously or otherwise, by data network, instant message, computer, computer network, computer system, or any other interactive electronic medium in a manner intended to alarm or cause substantial emotional distress or threaten bodily injury or property damage; or(II)
Making any obscene comment, suggestion, request, or proposal by computer, computer network, computer system, or any other electronic medium.(c)
“Intimidation” means directly or indirectly inflicting or threatening the infliction of any injury, damage, harm, or loss upon an individual.(d)
“Local elected official” means an individual serving in an elected position in the state who is not a state elected official, as defined in section 24-18.3-101 (2)(g).(e)
“Obscene” means a patently offensive description of sexual acts or solicitation to commit sexual acts.(f)
“Private social media” means social media that is not supported by the resources of a local government and is not required by state or local law, ordinance, or regulation to be created or maintained by a local elected official.(g)
“Social media” means any electronic medium, including an interactive computer service, telephone network, or data network that allows users to create, share, and view user-generated content including videos, still photographs, blogs, video blogs, podcasts, instant messages, electronic mail, or internet website profiles.(3)
A local elected official may permanently or temporarily restrict or bar an individual from using the private social media that is administered by the local elected official or their designee for any reason, including bullying, harassment, or intimidation, in the local elected official’s sole discretion.(4)
This section is not intended to infringe upon any right guaranteed to any individual by the first amendment to the United States constitution or section 10 of article II of the Colorado constitution or to prevent the expression of any religious, political, or philosophical views.
Source:
Section 29-34-101 — Bullying, harassment, and intimidation - local elected official - social media - legislative declaration - definitions, https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-29.pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).
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