This bill amends section 1038 of title 18 of the U.S. Code to make it a federal offense to send false or misleading information with the intent to cause an emergency response. It creates two ways the offense applies: (A) when the false information may reasonably be believed and indicates an activity that would violate certain listed federal criminal provisions or specified sections of other statutes, and (B) when the false information is sent by mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce and may reasonably be expected to cause an emergency response and indicates criminal conduct or danger to health or safety. Penalties include fines or imprisonment up to 5 years, up to 20 years if serious bodily injury results, and up to life if death results. The bill also allows civil actions: a person who engages in this conduct is liable to any party that incurs expenses for emergency or investigative responses. Finally, the bill defines "emergency response" to include deployment of personnel or equipment, evacuation orders or advice, or warnings issued by federal or state public safety agencies or private not-for-profit fire or rescue organizations.
If you intentionally send false information that is likely to cause responders to act, you could face federal criminal charges and prison time. The law covers false reports sent in person, by mail, by phone, by internet, or any other interstate or foreign commercial means. If your false report leads to injuries or death, penalties can be much higher. People or organizations that pay for emergency or investigative responses caused by false reports could sue the person who sent the false information to recover those expenses.
The bill makes the sender civilly liable for expenses incurred in any emergency or investigative response to the false information. No publicly available information on projected government costs or savings is included in the bill text provided.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.