Crimes: stalking.

Senator Ochoa Bogh's stalking legislation expands California's criminal code to protect pets and support animals from threats made during stalking incidents. The measure modifies existing stalking statutes to include credible threats against a victim's pet, service animal, emotional support animal, or horse as part of the criminal offense.

Under current law, stalking charges apply when someone willfully and repeatedly follows or harasses another person while making credible threats intended to cause reasonable fear for the safety of the victim or their immediate family. The proposed changes maintain the same penalties - up to one year in county jail, fines up to $1,000, or state prison time - while broadening the scope of protected entities. The bill preserves existing enhanced sentences for violations of restraining orders and repeat offenses.

The legislation retains key definitions of harassment as knowing conduct that seriously alarms or terrorizes without legitimate purpose, and credible threats as verbal, written or electronically communicated statements that reasonably cause fear with apparent ability for implementation. It continues existing provisions for mandatory counseling during probation and court authority to issue protective orders valid for up to 10 years. While creating a state-mandated local program by modifying the crime's definition, the measure specifies that no state reimbursement to local agencies is required.