This bill amends the existing law regarding false reports to law enforcement by introducing new provisions that specifically address false allegations against police officers. It establishes that a person is guilty of a misdemeanor if they knowingly report false or baseless information regarding misconduct by a law enforcement officer while the officer is performing their official duties. Additionally, if the false report pertains to allegations of criminal conduct by a law enforcement officer, the offense is elevated to a class A misdemeanor. The bill also modifies the language in the current law to include gender-neutral terms, replacing "he" with "he or she" in relevant sections.

The effective date for this legislation is set for January 1, 2026. The fiscal impact of the bill is currently indeterminable, as it may affect the judicial and correctional systems, potentially influencing costs related to prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole for the state and local governments. However, no specific revenue changes are anticipated as a result of this bill.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 641:4