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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
false reporting; public alarm; classification
Purpose
Expands the criminal classification of false reporting to make it unlawful for a person to knowingly initiate or circulate a false report of a bombing, fire or other emergency with intent to cause public alarm or an emergency response. Classifies a violation as a class 6 felony if the violation involves an educational institution or any place used for religious services.
Background
A person commits false reporting by initiating or circulating a report of a bombing, fire, offense or other emergency knowing that such report is false and intending that it will cause action of any sort by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies, or that it will place a person in fear of imminent serious physical injury or that it will prevent or interrupt the occupation of any building, room, place of assembly, public place or means of transportation (A.R.S. § 13-2907).
A person who commits false reporting that results in an emergency response or investigation of false reporting and who is convicted of a violation is liable for the expenses that are incurred due to the emergency response or the investigation of the commission of false reporting except if the person is a juvenile. False reporting is a class 1 misdemeanor, except that a second or subsequent violation is a class 6 felony (A.R.S. § 13-2907).
A class 6 felony carries a presumptive sentence of one year for first
time offenders and a fine of not more than $150,000. A class 1 misdemeanor
carries a maximum sentence of six months for first time offenders and a fine of
not more than $2,500 (A.R.S. §§ 13-702,
13-707,
13-801,
and
13-802).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Expands the criminal classification of false reporting to include that a person commits false reporting by initiating or circulating a report of a bombing, fire, offense or other emergency knowing that such report is false and the person intends that it will cause public alarm or an emergency response.
2. Classifies, as a class 6 felony, a violation of false reporting if the violation involves an educational institution or any place used for worship or for religious services.
3. Defines educational institution for the purposes of the false reporting classification.
4. Adds the federal government to the definition of public agency.
5. Makes technical and conforming changes.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 29, 2024
ZD/KK/cs