Bill > SB182

This bill amends Pennsylvania's existing law on false reports to law enforcement by adding a specific provision that addresses false reports made solely based on race or ethnicity. Under the proposed change, if an individual files a false report to law enforcement that is motivated exclusively by the race or ethnicity of the alleged perpetrator, and not by any actual suspicion of a crime, such an act would be classified as a first-degree misdemeanor. This means the offense would be more seriously graded than a standard false report, reflecting the legislative intent to discourage racially motivated false reporting. The bill would take effect 60 days after its enactment, giving law enforcement and the judicial system time to prepare for the new legal standard. By explicitly calling out race-based false reporting, the bill aims to address potential discriminatory practices and protect individuals from unwarranted legal harassment based on racial profiling.