Bill > S00046

This bill amends the New York penal law to expand the definition of "falsely reporting an incident in the second degree" to explicitly include intentionally making false reports that are designed to cause a large number of police officers to be dispatched to a specific address or location. The bill modifies existing law by adding language that makes it a class E felony to initiate or circulate a false report with the purpose of bringing about a significant police response to a particular location. Previously, the law covered false reports about fires, explosions, or hazardous substance releases, and now it extends this criminal provision to include deliberate attempts to trigger a massive police deployment through fraudulent means. The amendment clarifies that a person knowingly spreading such false information, with the likelihood of causing public alarm or inconvenience, can be charged with this felony offense. The bill will take effect 90 days after becoming law, providing a clear legal mechanism to prosecute individuals who engage in this type of potentially dangerous and disruptive behavior.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S46