This bill amends Section 817.49 of the Florida Statutes to designate the false reporting of a crime as a hate crime if the report is made in whole or in part due to certain beliefs or perceptions about another person, such as their race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. The bill establishes that individuals who commit this offense will face a misdemeanor of the first degree, with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 months. Additionally, the court may require offenders to complete a 40-hour program focused on hate crime prevention and education.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that any person convicted under this section must pay restitution to victims for costs incurred as a result of the false report. The language of the bill includes new provisions for defining hate crimes in this context and specifies the restitution requirements, replacing the term "shall" with "must" to emphasize the obligation. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 406 Filed: 817.49