What's happening
This bill creates "Jeremiah's Law," making it a class E felony to falsely report an incident involving a child under thirteen.
Why it matters
Raises the stakes for false accusations involving young children. By making it a felony to falsely report an incident involving a child under thirteen, the bill targets a particularly vulnerable population and seeks to deter malicious or reckless reports that could have severe consequences for children and their families.
Expands criminal liability. This legislation creates a specific new offense, meaning individuals who make false reports about young children face harsher penalties than for similar acts involving adults or older minors, reflecting the seriousness of such accusations.
Potential impact on law enforcement and child welfare resources. By criminalizing false reports at a higher level, the bill aims to reduce the misuse of emergency and investigative resources, allowing authorities to focus more on genuine cases and potentially improving outcomes for at-risk children.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Felony for False Kid Reports
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
11 Co-sponsors
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
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.
Felony for False Child Reports
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Leroy Comrie
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3430
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to establishing "Jeremiah's Law" relating to establishing the offense of filing a false report concerning a minor
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as "Jeremiah's Law".
§ 2. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 240.49 to read as follows: § 240.49 Filing a false report concerning a minor.
A person is guilty of filing a false report concerning a minor when he or she falsely reports an incident in the third degree as described in section 240.50 of this article and the individual who is the accused subject of the report is a child under the age of thirteen years.
Filing a false report concerning a minor is a class E felony.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date upon which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07525-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.