HB1653--OFFENSEOFMAKINGAFALSEREPORT
SPONSOR: Roberts
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPass"bytheStandingCommitteeon
CrimePreventionandPublicSafetybyavoteof18to5and1
votingPresent.
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.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthisaddressesswattingcalls,in
whichpeoplemakecallsforhelpandresponseteamsarecalledout
tododangerouswork.Thisisverydangerousforinnocentpeople
whogetcaughtupinthesesituations. Apersonwhoisavictimof
thisoffensecanbringacivilactionagainstthepersonwhomakes
thecall.Swattingisbecomingabiggerissuestatewideand
JeffersonCityhashadseveralcallscomeinoverthelastfew
weeks.Itdoestakemanysearchwarrantsandmanysubpoenastotry totrackdownaswattersincealotofthisinvolvescyber
technology.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Roberts;
JordanKadosh,AntiDefamationLeague;andLockeThompson,Missouri
AssociationofProsecutingAttorneys.
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsaythattheintentis
understoodbutfalsereportingdoesnotnecessarilystartwhenthe
swattingcallismade,anditdoesnotnecessarilyendwiththe
emergencyresponse. Thesameappliestoofficers’bodyworn
cameras. Thoseneedtostayonandanyattempttomutewhat
happenswouldbeconsideredfalsificationoftherecordifalaw
enforcementofficermadethefalsereport.
TestifyinginpersonagainstthebillwasJonStambaugh.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.