Under existing law, falsely reporting or causing the transmission of a false report of a crime, or relating to a crime, to law enforcement authorities is a Class A misdemeanor. This bill would provide that falsely reporting, or causing the transmission of a false report of a crime is a Class C felony if the false report alleges imminent danger to a person or the public. This bill would require a person convicted of false reporting, where the false report results in an emergency response or investigation of the commission of false reporting, be ordered to pay restitution for the false report. This bill would further provide for sentencing for a violation. Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose. The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the section. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the section.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13A-10-9