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CS/HB 37 — Knowingly and Willfully Giving False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer
by Criminal Justice Subcommittee and Reps. Diaz, Plakon, and others (SB 858 by Senators Negron, Joyner, Evers, and Sobel)
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)
This bill implements the recommendation of the Senate Select Committee on Protecting Florida’s Children to amend s. 837.055, F.S., which currently makes it a first degree misdemeanor to knowingly and willfully provide false information to law enforcement during a missing person or felony criminal investigation. Specifically, the bill creates a third degree felony offense for persons who knowingly and willfully provide false information with the intent to mislead or impede a law enforcement officer in a missing person investigation involving a child 16 years of age or younger, and such child suffers great bodily harm, permanent disability, permanent disfigurement, or death.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect October 1, 2012.
Vote: Senate 40-0; House 113-0