HF 2609

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 05/15/2021 07:55pm

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing the crime of conspiring to falsely call for
emergency services; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 609.78,
subdivisions 1, 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 609.78, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Misdemeanor offenses.

Whoever does the following is guilty of a
misdemeanor:

(1) refuses to relinquish immediately a coin-operated telephone or a telephone line
consisting of two or more stations when informed that the line is needed to make an
emergency call;

(2) secures a relinquishment of a coin-operated telephone or a telephone line consisting
of two or more stations by falsely stating that the line is needed for an emergency;

(3) publishes telephone directories to be used for telephones or telephone lines and the
directories do not contain a copy of this section;

(4) makes a call for emergency police, fire, medical, or ambulance service, knowing
that no police, fire, or medical emergency exists;

(5) interrupts, disrupts, impedes, or otherwise interferes with the transmission of a
citizen's band radio channel communication the purpose of which is to inform or inquire
about a medical emergency or an emergency in which property is or is reasonably believed
to be in imminent danger of damage or destruction; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(6) makes or initiates an emergency call, knowing that no emergency exists, and with
the intent to disrupt, interfere with, or reduce the provision of emergency services or the
emergency call center's resources, remains silent, or makes abusive or harassing statements
to the call recipient new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (7) intentionally recruits, trains, aids, advises, hires, counsels, or conspires with or
otherwise procures another to commit a violation of clause (4) or (6) new text end .

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2021, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 609.78, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Gross misdemeanor offenses.

Whoever does the following is guilty of a gross
misdemeanor:

(1) intentionally interrupts, disrupts, impedes, or interferes with an emergency call or
who intentionally prevents or hinders another from placing an emergency call, and whose
conduct does not result in a violation of section 609.498;

(2) places an emergency call and reports a fictitious emergency with the intent of
prompting an emergency response by law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical services
personnel; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(3) violates subdivision 1, clause (6), after having been previously convicted or
adjudicated delinquent for violating that clause new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (4) violates subdivision 1, clause (7), after having been previously convicted or
adjudicated delinquent for violating that clause new text end .

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2021, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.
new text end