What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Establishes the class E felony of dissemination of false missing child information
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Matthew Titone
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to dissemination of false information about a missing child
Purpose
To establish a class E felony of dissemination of false missing child information.
Summary of provisions
Section one adds a new section 240.49 to the penal law, dissemination of false missing child information.
Justification
Across the United States there have been numerous false Amber Alerts being sent out via e-mail and text message. These false alerts prompt concerned citizens to contact law enforcement agencies who find out from authorities that such alerts are fake. These false alerts can have negative effect on public awareness and diminish such awareness when an official Amber Alert is issue by authorities. These false alerts, which are spread by electronic means (i.e. e-mail, text message, Facebook, and Twitter), only diminish the effectiveness of a authentic and genuine Amber Alert. Legislation is needed in New York to prevent someone from disseminating false alerts to the public. This bill would make it a class E felony for someone who knowingly and falsely generates, by electronic or any other means, information that would make the public believe that an official alert has been issued on a child that has been abducted or kidnapped. Currently, all official Amber Alerts are initially broadcasted through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and if people have questions regarding the validity of an alert they can view them through the United States Justice Department at AmberAlert.gov.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
November 1.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.