HB1653--OFFENSEOFMAKINGAFALSEREPORT
SPONSOR: Roberts
Thisbillspecifiesthatapersoncommitstheoffenseofmakinga
falsereportifheorsheknowinglymakesafalsereportorcauses
afalsereporttobemadetoalawenforcementofficer,security
officer,firedepartmentorotherorganization,official,or
volunteerwithrecklessdisregardofcausingbodilyharmtoany
personasadirectresultofanemergencyresponse.
TheoffenseofmakingafalsereportisaclassBmisdemeanor,and
itisaclassEfelonyifthereportisafalsereportofafelony
offense. TheoffenseisaclassBfelonyifthereportresultsin
deathorseriousphysicalinjuryasaproximateresultoflawful
conductarisingoutoftheresponse. Achildwhoviolatesthis
sectionisguiltyofastatusoffenseforthefirstoffenseanda
classCmisdemeanorforasecondorsubsequentviolation. The
childmustappearbeforeajuvenilecourtor,inlieu,complete30
hoursofcommunityserviceorpayafinenottoexceed$250.
Thislegislationdoesnotimposeliabilityonapersonwhocontacts
lawenforcementtoreportunlawfulconductorconflictwiththe
CommunicationDecencyActortheCivilRightsAct.
Avictimoftheoffensemaybringacivilactionagainsttheperson
whomadethefalsereportandmayrecoverdamagesorother
equitablerelief,aswellasreasonableattorneys'fees.Aperson
whomakesafalsereportasspecifiedinthisbillforthepurpose
ofinfringingonanotherperson'srights,unlawfullydiscriminating
againstanotherperson,causinganotherpersontobeexpelledfrom
aplacethepersonislawfullylocated,ordamaginganother
person'sreputationorfinancial,economic,consumer,orbusiness
prospectsorinterestsmayberequiredtopaypunitivedamagesin
additiontoanyotherdamagesallowed.
ThisbillisthesameasHB302(2023)andHCSHB1704(2022).