WORLAND – During the 2017 Wyoming Legislative there were many laws that were passed and many existing laws that were amended session that came into to effect July 1. Below is a sampling of the new laws and amendments.

Wyoming Statute 6-3-203 was amended to expand the definition of acts that are considered a felony of aggravated cruelty to animals. Paragraph c was added which states, a person commits aggravated cruelty to animals if he or she shoots, poisons or otherwise intentionally acts to seriously injure or destroy any livestock or domesticated animal owned by another person while the animal is on property where the animal is authorized to be present.

A Wyoming statute considered by some as the “Good Samaritan Law,” was amended to provide protections to members engaged in search and rescue operations. The summary of the amendment provided by the Legislation Service Office states: This bill provides that an individual engaged in search and rescue operations under a county sheriff's coordination, acting within the scope of that individual's duties as a volunteer, is personally immune from civil liability for any act or omission resulting in damage or injury. The summary further states that the bill exempts search and rescue workers acting within the scope of their duties from liability for damages resulting from bodily injury, wrongful death or property damage caused by their negligence under the Governmental Claims Act.

Wyoming Statute 23-3-305 was amended to add that searching for antlers on private property without permission of the property owner is against the law. The words, collect antlers or horns, was added to the paragraph in the statute which stated that no person shall enter upon the private property of any person to hunt, fish or trap without the permission of the owner or person in charge of the property.

Wyoming Statute 6-3-507 was created to make the production of ransomware a crime and to define the penalties of such a violation. Ransomware is defined as a computer or data contaminant, encryption or lock that restricts an owner’s access to a computer, computer data, computer system or computer network in any way. Ransomware does not include authentication required to upgrade or access purchased content.

The new law states that a person is guilty of computer extortion if he/she knowingly and without authorization introduces, attempts to introduce or directs or induces another to introduce, any ransomware into a computer, computer system or computer network which requires the payment of money or other consideration to remove the ransomware or repair damage caused to the computer, computer system or computer network by the ransomware. The penalty for computer extortion is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, up to $10,000 in fines or both.

For more information about new and or amended laws visit http://legisweb.state.wy.us.