HB302--MAKINGAFALSEREPORT
SPONSOR: Roberts
Thisbillspecifiesthatapersoncommitstheoffenseofmakinga
falsereportifheorsheknowinglymakesafalsereportorcauses
afalsereporttobemadetoalawenforcementofficer,security
officer,firedepartmentorotherorganization,official,or
volunteerwithrecklessdisregardofcausingbodilyharmtoany
personasadirectresultofanemergencyresponse.
TheoffenseofmakingafalsereportisaclassBmisdemeanor,but
itisaclassEfelonyifthereportisafalsereportofafelony
offense. TheoffenseisaclassBfelonyifthereportresultsin
deathorseriousphysicalinjuryasaproximateresultoflawful
conductarisingoutoftheresponse. Achildwhoviolatesthis
sectionisguiltyofastatusoffenseforthefirstoffenseanda
classCmisdemeanorforasecondorsubsequentviolation. The
childmustappearbeforeajuvenilecourtor,inlieu,complete30
hoursofcommunityserviceorpayafinenottoexceed$250.
Thislegislationdoesnotimposeliabilityonapersonwhocontacts
lawenforcementtoreportunlawfulconductorconflictwiththe
CommunicationDecencyActortheCivilRightsAct.
Apersonwhoisavictimoftheoffensemaybringacivilaction
againstthepersonwhomadethefalsereportandmayrecover
damagesorotherequitablerelief,aswellasreasonableattorneys'
fees.Apersonwhomakesafalsereportunderthisbillforthe
purposeofinfringingonanotherperson'srights,unlawfully
discriminating againstanotherperson,causinganotherpersontobe
expelledfromaplacethepersonislawfullylocated,ordamaging
anotherperson'sreputationorfinancial,economic,consumer,or
businessprospectsorinterestsmayberequiredtopaypunitive
damagesinadditiontoanyotherdamagesallowed.
ThisbillisthesameasHCSHB1704(2022).