In the near future, I plan to reintroduce Senate Bill 78 from the 2023-2024 legislative session. This legislation would deter racially and ethnically motivated 911 calls, as well as prohibit making false reports to law enforcement based solely on the race or ethnicity of the alleged perpetrator. Under my proposed legislation, when an individual reports “criminal activity” based solely on the race or ethnicity of another individual, the individual will have committed the crime of making false reports to law enforcement, which would be graded as a misdemeanor of the first degree.
 
Too often police are called to respond to the innocuous activities of Black and brown citizens, such as waiting in a Starbucks, using the private pool in a gated community, napping in a dorm common area, or even golfing. Unfortunately, more often than not, police are unnecessarily brought into these situations by someone reporting innocent behaviors as “criminal activity.” Being Black is not a crime. Being brown is not a crime.
 
Please join me in sponsoring this legislation. Contact Mike DiRaimo in my office with any questions.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0121: 18-4906(c)