Bill > S05887

This bill establishes a new criminal offense called "dissemination of false missing child information" under New York state law. Specifically, a person can be charged with this class E felony if they knowingly report, circulate, or spread false information about a missing child, and as a result, public funds are spent investigating or attempting to locate the purportedly missing child. The law defines this as a serious criminal act, making it illegal to deliberately provide fabricated information about a child's disappearance that triggers official investigations and causes government resources to be expended. By classifying this as a class E felony, the bill creates meaningful legal consequences for individuals who intentionally create false missing child reports, which can waste valuable law enforcement resources and potentially divert attention from genuine missing children cases. The bill will go into effect on the first of November following its passage into law.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5887