Senate Bill 782 aims to amend existing law regarding the intentional misuse of the 911 emergency system. Currently, individuals who intentionally dial 911 to report a non-existent emergency face penalties, including fines ranging from $100 to $600 or imprisonment for up to 90 days for a first offense, and a Class H felony for repeat offenses within four years. The bill expands this definition to include the act of intentionally sending false text messages to the 911 number, thereby subjecting this action to the same penalties as those for false calls.

The specific legal language amended in the bill is found in section 256.35 (10) (a), where the phrase "intentionally dials" is updated to include "or sends a text message to." This change reflects the evolving nature of communication and aims to deter individuals from misusing the 911 system through text messages, ensuring that all forms of false reporting are treated with equal seriousness under the law.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 256.35(10)(a), 256.35