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<leg xml:space="preserve" billnum="SB0099" sponsor="Lincoln Fillmore" designation="SB" otherSponsor="Stephanie Gricius" otherHouse="House" sess="2026GS" fileno="2026FL0555" date="1/7/2026 14:01:347" printDate="01-07 14:52" subVer="0" minVer="0" office="LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL" actionDate="" impact="code"><info><nextbuid>6</nextbuid><aminfo anum="0" effdate="05/06/2026"><seclist><sect action="A" src="code" buid="1" uid="C76-9-S105.5_2026050620260506" fromuid="C76-9-S105.5_2025050720250507" sort="76 09 01050520260506" mtype="section" effdate="05/06/2026">76-9-105.5</sect><sect src="uncod" untype="effdate" buid="5" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" mtype="uncod" effdate="05/06/2026"/></seclist></aminfo></info><tbox><sinfo><nextpairid>0</nextpairid></sinfo><st numlevel="1" lineno="1" slineno="0-1">Emergency Reporting Offense Amendments</st><sessionhead>2026 GENERAL SESSION</sessionhead><statehead>STATE OF UTAH</statehead><sponsorhead>Chief Sponsor: Lincoln Fillmore</sponsorhead><otherSponsorhead>House Sponsor: Stephanie Gricius</otherSponsorhead></tbox><lt numlevel="1" lineno="2" slineno="0-2"><lthead lineno="3">LONG TITLE</lthead><gdhead lineno="4">General Description:</gdhead><gd numlevel="1" lineno="5" slineno="0-5">This bill modifies the offense of emergency reporting abuse.</gd><hphead lineno="6">Highlighted Provisions:</hphead><hp numlevel="1" lineno="7" slineno="0-7">This bill:<hl numlevel="1" lineno="8" slineno="0-8" level="1">modifies the offense of emergency reporting abuse to include conduct in which an actor <ln numlevel="1" lineno="9" slineno="0-9"/>contacts an emergency response service when the actor knows, or reasonably should <ln numlevel="1" lineno="10" slineno="0-10"/>know, that no actual or perceived emergency exists; and </hl><hl numlevel="1" lineno="11" slineno="0-11" level="1">makes technical and conforming changes. </hl></hp><moni numlevel="1" lineno="12" slineno="0-12" display="none">Money Appropriated in this Bill:</moni><moniNone lineno="13">None</moniNone><oc numlevel="1" lineno="14" slineno="0-14">Other Special Clauses:</oc><ocNone lineno="15">None</ocNone><sa numlevel="1" lineno="16" slineno="0-16">Utah Code Sections Affected:<saamd numlevel="1" lineno="17" slineno="0-17"><snhead>AMENDS:</snhead><sn num="76-9-105.5" src="code" uid="C76-9-S105.5_2026050620260506" buid="1" sort="76 09 01050520260506" numlevel="1" lineno="18" slineno="0-18"><bold>76-9-105.5</bold>, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 173</sn></saamd></sa></lt><enacthead lineno="19"/><enact numlevel="1" lineno="20" slineno="0-20">Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:</enact><bdy><bsec buid="1" num="76-9-105.5" type="amend" src="code" uid="C76-9-S105.5_2026050620260506" sort="76 09 01050520260506" numlevel="1" lineno="21" slineno="1-1" sn="1"><section number="76-9-105.5" numlevel="1" lineno="22" slineno="1-2" type="amend"><secline lineno="21">Section 1. Section <bold>76-9-105.5</bold> is amended to read:</secline><catline lineno="22"><bold>76-9-105.5<parens/>. Emergency reporting abuse.</bold></catline><subsection ssid="1-null-1" dnum="1-o" numlevel="1" lineno="23" slineno="1-3" level="1" placement="noreturn" space="false"><display>(1)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-2" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>As used in this section:<subsection ssid="1-null-3" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="24" slineno="1-4" level="3" tab="1"><display>(i)</display>"Emergency" means a situation in which property or human life is in jeopardy and <ln numlevel="1" lineno="25" slineno="1-5"/>the prompt summoning of aid is essential to the preservation of human life or <ln numlevel="1" lineno="26" slineno="1-6"/>property.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-4" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="27" slineno="1-7" level="3" tab="1"><display>(ii)</display>"Party line" means a subscriber's line or telephone circuit:<subsection ssid="1-null-5" dnum="A-o" numlevel="1" lineno="28" slineno="1-8" level="4"><display>(A)</display>that consists of two or more connected main telephone stations; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-6" dnum="B-o" numlevel="1" lineno="29" slineno="1-9" level="4"><display>(B)</display>where each telephone station has a distinctive ring or telephone number.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-7" dnum="iii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="30" slineno="1-10" level="3" tab="1"><display>(iii)</display>"Weapon of mass destruction" means the same as that term is defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-15-301"><ln numlevel="1" lineno="31" slineno="1-11"/>76-15-301</xref>.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-8" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="32" slineno="1-12" level="2"><display>(b)</display>Terms defined in <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="40" groupid="35" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="both">Sections</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="39" groupid="34" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">Section</amend> <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-1-101.5">76-1-101.5</xref> apply to this section.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-9" dnum="2-o" numlevel="1" lineno="33" slineno="1-13" level="1"><display>(2)</display>An actor commits emergency reporting abuse if the actor:<subsection ssid="1-null-10" dnum="a-o" numlevel="1" lineno="34" slineno="1-14" level="2"><display>(a)</display>reports an emergency or causes an emergency to be reported, through any means, to a <ln numlevel="1" lineno="35" slineno="1-15"/>public, private, or volunteer entity whose purpose is to respond to fire, police, or <ln numlevel="1" lineno="36" slineno="1-16"/>medical emergencies, when the actor knows the reported emergency does not exist;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-11" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="37" slineno="1-17" level="2"><display>(b)</display>makes a false report, or intentionally aids, abets, or causes another person to make a <ln numlevel="1" lineno="38" slineno="1-18"/>false report, through any means<amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="35" groupid="30" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both">,</amend> to an emergency response service, including a law <ln numlevel="1" lineno="39" slineno="1-19"/>enforcement dispatcher or a 911 emergency response service, if the false report <ln numlevel="1" lineno="40" slineno="1-20"/>claims that:<subsection ssid="1-null-12" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="41" slineno="1-21" level="3"><display>(i)</display>an emergency exists or will exist;</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-13" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="42" slineno="1-22" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>the emergency described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-9-105.5(2)(b)(i)">(2)(b)(i)</xref> involves an imminent or future <ln numlevel="1" lineno="43" slineno="1-23"/>threat of serious bodily injury, serious physical injury, or death; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-14" dnum="iii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="44" slineno="1-24" level="3"><display>(iii)</display>the emergency described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-9-105.5(2)(b)(i)">(2)(b)(i)</xref> is occurring, or will occur, at a <ln numlevel="1" lineno="45" slineno="1-25"/>specified location; <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="8" groupid="8" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="both">or</amend><amendoutend style="2"/></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-15" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="46" slineno="1-26" level="2"><display>(c)</display>makes a false report after having previously made a false report, or intentionally <ln numlevel="1" lineno="47" slineno="1-27"/>aides, abets, or causes a third party to make a false report, to an emergency response <ln numlevel="1" lineno="48" slineno="1-28"/>service, including a law enforcement dispatcher or a 911 emergency response service, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="49" slineno="1-29"/>alleging a violation of Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="63G-31-302">63G-31-302</xref> regarding a sex-designated changing room<amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="9" groupid="9" style="2" owner="ahaskell" level="1" deltag="both">.</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="6" groupid="6" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">; <ln numlevel="1" lineno="50" slineno="1-30"/>or</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-25" dnum="_-o:d-i" numlevel="1" lineno="51" slineno="1-31" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1015" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(d)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="5" groupid="5" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">under circumstances not amounting to an offense described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-9-105.5(2)(a)">(2)(a)</xref>, (b), <ln numlevel="1" lineno="52" slineno="1-32"/>or (c), contacts, through any means, an emergency response service, including a law <ln numlevel="1" lineno="53" slineno="1-33"/>enforcement dispatcher or a 911 emergency response service, when the actor knows, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="54" slineno="1-34"/>or reasonably should know, that no actual or perceived emergency exists, which may <ln numlevel="1" lineno="55" slineno="1-35"/>include:</amend><subsection ssid="1-29" dnum="_-o:i-i" numlevel="1" lineno="56" slineno="1-36" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="3"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1016" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(i)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="28" groupid="24" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">reporting a situation that the actor knows, or reasonably should know, is not an <ln numlevel="1" lineno="57" slineno="1-37"/>emergency situation; or</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-30" dnum="_-o:ii-i" numlevel="1" lineno="58" slineno="1-38" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="ahaskell" style="1" level="3"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1017" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(ii)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="33" groupid="28" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="end">requesting assistance or services that the actor knows, or reasonably should know, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="59" slineno="1-39"/>are not necessary for, or in response to, an emergency.</amend></subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-16" dnum="3-o" numlevel="1" lineno="60" slineno="1-40" level="1" space="false"><display>(3)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-17" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>Except as provided in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-9-105.5(3)(b)">(3)(b)</xref>, a violation of Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-9-105.5(2)(a)">(2)(a)</xref> is a class <ln numlevel="1" lineno="61" slineno="1-41"/>B misdemeanor.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-18" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="62" slineno="1-42" level="2"><display>(b)</display>A violation of Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-9-105.5(2)(a)">(2)(a)</xref> is a second degree felony if the report is regarding a <ln numlevel="1" lineno="63" slineno="1-43"/>weapon of mass destruction.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-19" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="64" slineno="1-44" level="2"><display>(c)</display>A violation of Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-9-105.5(2)(b)">(2)(b)</xref> is a second degree felony.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-20" dnum="d-o" numlevel="1" lineno="65" slineno="1-45" level="2"><display>(d)</display>A violation of Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-9-105.5(2)(c)">(2)(c)</xref><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="37" groupid="32" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both"> or <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-9-105.5(2)(d)">(2)(d)</xref></amend> is a class B misdemeanor.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-21" dnum="4-o" numlevel="1" lineno="66" slineno="1-46" level="1" space="false"><display>(4)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-22" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>In addition to another penalty authorized by law, a court shall order an actor <ln numlevel="1" lineno="67" slineno="1-47"/>convicted of a violation of this section to reimburse a federal, state, or local unit of <ln numlevel="1" lineno="68" slineno="1-48"/>government, or a private business, organization, individual, or entity for all expenses <ln numlevel="1" lineno="69" slineno="1-49"/>and losses incurred in responding to the violation.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-23" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="70" slineno="1-50" level="2"><display>(b)</display>The court may order that the actor pay less than the full amount of the costs <ln numlevel="1" lineno="71" slineno="1-51"/>described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="76-9-105.5(4)(a)">(4)(a)</xref> only if the court states on the record the reasons why <ln numlevel="1" lineno="72" slineno="1-52"/>the reimbursement would be inappropriate.</subsection></subsection></section></bsec><bsec buid="5" type="uncod" untype="effdate" src="uncod" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" langlock="true" numlevel="1" lineno="73" slineno="2-1" sn="2"><section type="uncod" untype="effdate" display="false" src="uncod"><secline lineno="73">Section 2.  <bold>Effective Date.</bold></secline><sectionText lineno="74"><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1" groupid="1" style="1" owner="ahaskell" level="1" amendtag="both">This bill takes effect on <effdate uid="code" date="5/6/2026">May 6, 2026</effdate>.</amend></sectionText></section></bsec></bdy><foot><rev><tm>1-7-26 2:52 PM</tm></rev></foot></leg>