2023 -- H 5903 SUBSTITUTE A
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LC002180/SUB A
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- PUBLIC UTILITIES
Introduced By: Representatives Fogarty, Tanzi, Donovan, Shallcross Smith, Boylan,
Handy, Hull, Caldwell, Henries, and Cortvriend
Date Introduced: March 01, 2023
Referred To: House Judiciary
(Attorney General)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 11-35-18 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-35 entitled "Public 1
Utilities" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
11-35-18. Bomb threats and similar false reports. 3
(a) Whoever, knowing the report to be false, transmits or causes to be transmitted to any 4
person by telephone or other means a communication falsely reporting, warning, or threatening 5
either the location existence of any explosive or other dangerous substance or contrivance, or a 6
shooting or other dangerous event or happening, at a location causing terror, anxiety, unrest, fear, 7
or personal discomfort by that false report, warning, or threat to any person or group of persons, 8
or prompting an evacuation or lockdown of a location or other law enforcement response, shall be 9
guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment at the adult correctional institutions for 10
not more than ten (10) years, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by 11
both fine and imprisonment. 12
(b) For any person charged under subsection (a) of this section, the court may consider any 13
factors, including whether the person poses a danger to an individual, the community, or the 14
defendant, when making bail determinations, and may impose any reasonable conditions or court 15
order including, but not limited to: 16
(1) An extreme risk protection order pursuant to the provisions of chapter 8.3 of title 8; 17
(2) A no trespass order for any educational, religious, or public institution or building; 18
(3) A mental health assessment and/or a referral for mental health treatment; and/or 19
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(4) Substance abuse counseling. 1
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 2
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LC002180/SUB A - Page 3 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- PUBLIC UTILITIES
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This act would expand the crime of false reporting to include shootings or other dangerous 1
events. 2
This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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