House File 421 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE 421
BY ANDREWS
A BILL FOR
1 An Act creating a civil action relating to harassment by the
2 reporting of false information to law enforcement authority.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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 H.F. 421
1 Section 1. Section 708.7, Code 2021, is amended by adding
2 the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 07. A person injured by a violation of
4 section 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (4), may bring a civil
5 action against the person whose conduct violated section 1,
6 paragraph “a”, subparagraph (4).
7 EXPLANATION
8 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
9 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
10 Under Code section 708.7(1)(a)(4), a person commits the
11 crime of harassment when the person, with intent to intimidate,
12 annoy, or alarm another person, reports or causes to be
13 reported false information to a law enforcement authority
14 implicating another in some criminal activity, knowing that
15 the information is false, or reports the alleged occurrence
16 of a criminal act, knowing the act did not occur. This bill
17 provides that the person subject to such harassment may
18 institute a civil action for damages against the person who
19 committed the harassment.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 708.7