Bill > H2015

This bill updates Massachusetts law regarding false emergency reporting by establishing comprehensive penalties and definitions for various scenarios of maliciously communicating false emergency information. The bill defines key terms like "PSAP" (Public Safety Answering Point), "emergency", and "silent call", and creates graduated criminal penalties based on the severity and intent of false emergency reports. For first-time offenders who make a false report resulting in emergency service dispatch, the punishment is up to 6 months in jail or a $200 fine. Repeat offenders face up to 1 year in jail or a $1,000 fine. If a false report leads to great bodily harm or death, the offender could be charged with a felony and face up to 5 years in state prison or a $5,000 fine. The law also includes enhanced penalties for false reports motivated by bias or targeting an individual's constitutional rights, which can result in up to 10 years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. Additionally, the bill mandates that convicted individuals may be required to complete a diversity awareness program and provides mechanisms for emergency service providers to seek restitution for costs incurred from false reports. The legislation also allows victims to bring civil actions against those who make false emergency reports.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2015