IB
Union Calendar No. 184
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3209
[Report No. 107–306]
To amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to false communications
about certain criminal violations, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 1, 2001
Mr. SMITH of Texas (for himself, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, Mr. CONYERS, Mr.
WOLF, Mr. SCOTT, and Mr. FERGUSON) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
NOVEMBER 29, 2001
Additional sponsors: Mr. HEFLEY, Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma, Mr. GOODLATTE,
Mr. KELLER, Mr. COBLE, Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr.
SWEENEY, Mr. OXLEY, and Mr. BRADY of Texas
NOVEMBER 29, 2001
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on November 1, 2001]
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to
false communications about certain criminal violations,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Anti-Hoax Terrorism
Act of 2001’’.
SEC. 2. HOAXES AND RECOVERY COSTS.
(a) PROHIBITION ON HOAXES.—Chapter 47 of title 18,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section
1036 the following:
‘‘§ 1037. False information and hoaxes
‘‘(a) CRIMINAL VIOLATION.—Whoever engages in any
conduct, with intent to convey false or misleading informa-
tion, under circumstances where such information may rea-
sonably be believed and where such information concerns
an activity which would constitute a violation of section
175, 229, 831, or 2332a, shall be fined under this title or
imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
‘‘(b) CIVIL ACTION.—Whoever engages in any conduct,
with intent to convey false or misleading information,
under circumstances where such information concerns an
activity which would constitute a violation of section 175,
229, 831, or 2332a, is liable in a civil action to any party
incurring expenses incident to any emergency or investiga-
tive response to that conduct, for those expenses.
‘‘(c) REIMBURSEMENT.—The court, in imposing a sen-
tence on a defendant who has been convicted of an offense
under subsection (a), shall order the defendant to reimburse
any party incurring expenses incident to any emergency
or investigative response to that conduct, for those expenses.
A person ordered to make reimbursement under this sub-
section shall be jointly and severally liable for such expenses
with each other person, if any, who is ordered to make reim-
bursement under this subsection for the same expenses. An
order of reimbursement under this subsection shall, for the
purposes of enforcement, be treated as a civil judgment.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at
the beginning of chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code,
is amended by adding after the item for section 1036 the
following:
‘‘1037. False information and hoaxes.’’.
Union Calendar No. 184
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3209
[Report No. 107–306]
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, with re-
spect to false communications about certain
criminal violations, and for other purposes.
NOVEMBER 29, 2001
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union,
and ordered to be printed