The proposed bill SB1144 amends the current law regarding false reporting by expanding the definition of the offense. Under the new bill, it will be unlawful for a person to knowingly initiate a false report of a serious offense with the intent to cause an emergency response, classifying such a violation as a class 6 felony. This contrasts with the current law, where false reporting is generally classified as a class 1 misdemeanor, with subsequent violations escalating to a class 6 felony. The bill also introduces a specific definition for "emergency response" as an immediate response by a law enforcement agency.

Additionally, the bill modifies the definition of "public agency" to include the federal government and clarifies the term "serious offense" by referencing its definition in section 13-706. The amendments remove the previous requirement that false reports must involve educational or religious institutions to be classified as a felony. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen the legal framework surrounding false reporting, particularly in cases that could lead to significant emergency responses.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-2907
Senate Engrossed Version: 13-2907