Bill > HB3969

This bill creates a more comprehensive legal framework for addressing false reports to emergency services by establishing three distinct degrees of the offense. The first degree of initiating a false report is the most serious, occurring when a knowingly false report leads to a death during emergency response, and is classified as a Class B felony with potential penalties of up to 10 years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The second degree applies when a false report results in serious injury, harm to specific locations like schools or places of worship, or harm to public officials, and is classified as a Class C felony with potential penalties of up to five years' imprisonment and a $125,000 fine. The existing law's provisions are renamed as initiating a false report in the third degree, which remains a Class A misdemeanor. For all degrees, the court must require the offender to repay response costs and make restitution to any injured parties. The bill also amends related statutes to incorporate these new provisions, such as allowing juvenile accountability agreements to require repayment of false report response costs. The legislation will take effect 91 days after the adjournment of the 2025 regular legislative session, providing a clear timeline for implementation of these new criminal provisions.

Health and Social Services

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3969