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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20130&cosponId=10880
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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: January 13, 2013 03:07 PM
From: Representative Scott A. Petri
To: All House members
Subject: False Reports to Law Enforcement Authorities (Former HB 554)
 
I plan to reintroduce legislation which will amend section 4906 of the Crimes Code (Title 18) relating to false reports to law enforcement authorities.

In Bucks County, Bonnie Sweeten called 911 and reported that she and her 9-year-old daughter were kidnapped by two men after a minor auto accident. This 911 call sparked a massive manhunt, expending thousands of dollars in local, county and state resources. Ms. Sweeten and her daughter were eventually found, not victims of a kidnapping, but instead on a “vacation” in Walt Disney World.

Generally, under current law, the costs that criminal defendants are required to pay relate to the costs of prosecution and restitution can only be awarded for damage to persons or to property. Additionally, our courts have determined that the Commonwealth and its agencies are not considered “victims” for purposes of awarding restitution. Courts presently do not have the statutory authority to mandate the payment of expenses incurred by local, county and state public safety agencies by individuals who file false police reports.

My legislation will mandate that any individual who is convicted of violating section 4906 be sentenced to pay restitution in an amount equal to the costs incurred for any fire or police response, emergency medical service or emergency preparedness response or governmental agency response to the false information or report. It gives courts the authority to hold those individuals responsible for the repayment of financial losses incurred by local, county and state public safety agencies involved in investigating allegations which turn out to be false.

Previous cosponsors: D. COSTA, CUTLER , GOODMAN, HARKINS , HESS , KNOWLES, LONGIETTI , MILLER , MURT , RAPP , READSHAW , SWANGER , WAGNER , WHITE and MILNE



Introduced as HB251