The provisions of the bill addressing criminal sanctions are the subject of this analysis.  The bill would amend the Penal Code to create the offense of false report of misconduct by emergency responders which would be punished as a Class A misdemeanor.  Under existing statute, the offense of false report to a peace officer, federal special investigator, or law enforcement employee is punished as a Class B misdemeanor.
 
A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by confinement in county jail for a term not to exceed one year and, in addition to confinement, a fine not to exceed $4,000.  A Class B misdemeanor is punishable by confinement in county jail for a term not to exceed 180 days and in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $2,000.
 
Expanding the list of behaviors for which a penalty can be applied is expected to result in additional demands upon the correctional resources of the counties or of the State due to longer terms of supervision in the community. In fiscal year 2018, 1,073 people were arrested and 189 people were placed under misdemeanor community supervision for offense of false report to a peace officer, federal special investigator, or law enforcement employee. This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill addressing criminal sanctions would not result in a significant impact on state correctional populations or the demand for state correctional resources.