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2023 SESSION

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HB 1572 False emergency communication to emergency personnel; false information, penalties, report.

Introduced by: Wendell S. Walker | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

False emergency communication to emergency personnel; penalties. Provides that it is a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to knowingly report, or cause another to report in reliance on intentionally false information provided by such person, a false emergency communication to any emergency personnel that results in an emergency response.

The bill also provides that it is a Class 6 felony if such false emergency communication results in an emergency response and any person suffers a serious bodily injury as a direct and proximate result of the false emergency communication and a Class 5 felony if any person is killed as a direct and proximate result of the false emergency communication.

The bill authorizes any locality to provide by ordinance that a person convicted of such false emergency communication shall be liable for the reasonable expense in responding to such false emergency communication. This bill is identical to SB 1291.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Emergency response; false information by device; penalty. Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to maliciously advise or inform another over any other device by any means, or cause another to do the same, of the death of, accident to, injury to, illness of, or disappearance of some third party, or of the imminent threat to the safety of a person, that results in an emergency response, knowing the information to be false. The bill defines emergency response as a response by law-enforcement officers, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel to a situation where human life or property is in jeopardy and the prompt summoning of aid is essential. Current law only prohibits such false information to another by telephone.