HCS/HB 1704 - This act modifies the offense of making a false report by providing that a person commits such offense if he or she knowingly makes a false report or causes a false report to be made to a law enforcement officer, security officer, fire department, or other organization with reckless disregard of causing bodily harm to any person as a direct result of an emergency response. Such offense shall be a Class E felony, unless the false report results in death or serious physical injury as a proximate result of lawful conduct arising out of that response the it shall be a Class B felony.
Additionally, a child who makes a false report is guilty of a status offense and shall appear before a juvenile curst or may complete 30 hours of community service. For a second or subsequent violation, a child shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.
Finally, any person who makes a false report with the purpose of unlawfully discrimination against another person or infringing on another person's rights may be required to pay punitive damages to the victim in addition to other damages.
MARY GRACE PRINGLE