S-0156.2  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5086

          _______________________________________________

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.

Increasing penalties for false reporting that causes a risk of substantial injury to persons or great expense to a governmental entity.

    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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