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CS/CS/HB 279 — False Reporting
by Judiciary Committee; Criminal Justice Subcommittee; and Rep. Partington and others (SB 726 by Senators Ingoglia and Wright)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Criminal Justice Committee (CJ)
The bill amends s. 365.172, F.S., to provide it is a first degree misdemeanor for a person to cause another party to access the 911 system for the purpose of making a false alarm, false complaint or reporting false information.
The bill creates a:
- Third degree felony for misuse of the 911 system if a person suffers great bodily harm, permanent disfigurement, or permanent disability as a proximate result of the misuse; and
- Second degree felony for misuse of the 911 system if a person dies as a proximate result of lawful conduct arising out of the emergency response.
The bill reduces the number of prior convictions needed to subject a person to an enhanced penalty of a third degree felony for misuse of the 911 system from four convictions to two convictions.
The bill deletes an enhanced penalty for misusing the 911 system and receiving services of more than $100 dollars.
A court must order a person convicted of misusing the 911 system or making a false report to law enforcement to pay:
- The costs of prosecution and investigation; and
- Restitution to any victim who suffers damage or injury as a proximate result of lawful conduct arising out of an emergency or law enforcement response.
A defendant must also pay full restitution to a responding public safety agency for any cost incurred by responding to the incident.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect July 1, 2025.
Vote: Senate 38-0; House 115-0