Bill > HF559

This bill amends Minnesota's existing law regarding false emergency reports by establishing a clear mechanism for restitution (financial compensation) when someone is convicted of making a fictitious emergency report. Specifically, the bill requires that when a person is convicted of filing a false emergency report, the court must order them to pay full restitution to two parties: (1) the public agency that responded to the false emergency, to cover the reasonable costs of their emergency response, and (2) any direct victim who was negatively impacted by the false emergency report. Importantly, the bill clarifies that the required restitution payment does not prevent the victim from seeking additional damages through a civil lawsuit if the financial compensation from restitution does not fully cover their losses. This provision aims to hold individuals accountable for the financial and potentially emotional harm caused by falsely reporting an emergency, which can waste public resources and potentially endanger lives by diverting emergency services from real emergencies.

Justice

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF0559&ssn=0&y=2025