HB302--MAKINGAFALSEREPORT
SPONSOR: Roberts
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPass"bytheStandingCommitteeon
CrimePreventionandPublicSafetybyavoteof24to0.
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.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthisisgermainetothemoment
regarding"swatting"orfalsereportstocalloutemergency
response. Thecurrentlanguageisdeletedandnewlanguagewith
"recklessdisregard"penaltiesincludefordeathinjuryand
discrimination isadded.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Roberts;
JordanKadosh,AntiDefamationLeague.
OPPONENTS: Therewasnooppositionvoicedtothecommittee. Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.