S-0156.2 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5086
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State of Washington 57th Legislature 2001 Regular Session
By Senators Haugen, Winsley and Oke
Read first time 01/10/2001. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
AN ACT Relating to false reporting; amending RCW 9A.84.040; adding a new section to chapter 9A.84 RCW; and prescribing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 9A.84 RCW to read as follows:
(1) A person is guilty of false reporting in the first degree if, with knowledge that the information reported, conveyed, or circulated is false, he or she initiates or circulates a false report or warning of an alleged occurrence or impending occurrence of a fire, explosion, crime, catastrophe, or emergency knowing that the false report creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person or causes a governmental entity or combination of governmental entities to incur expenses that exceed fifty thousand dollars.
(2) False reporting in the first degree is a class C felony.
Sec. 2. RCW 9A.84.040 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.84.040 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) A person is guilty
of false reporting in the second degree if, with knowledge that
the information reported, conveyed, or circulated is false, he or she
initiates or circulates a false report or warning of an alleged occurrence or
impending occurrence of a fire, explosion, crime, catastrophe, or emergency
knowing that such false report is likely to cause: Evacuation of a
building, place of assembly, or transportation facility((, or to cause));
public inconvenience or alarm; or fire, police, or rescue personnel to
initiate a response to the false report.
(2) False reporting in the second degree is a gross misdemeanor.
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