Bill to allow felony penalties for Pennsylvania school emergency hoaxes
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — New legislation that was approved by the Pennsylvania Senate would now create new penalties for individuals who create hoax emergency reports targeted at schools.
The legislation, Bill 96, would work to crack down on false threats targeting schools. Central Pennsylvania Senator Pat Stefano hopes that it will enhance public safety and reduce the strain on emergency responders.
Central Pennsylvania awarded over $650k to revitalize downtown areas
Here's what the bill would do if it's signed into law:
Making a false report of an emergency threat to a school would be classified as a third-degree felony
Courts would be allowed to impose financial penalties to recover the costs incurred by taxpayers for emergency response efforts
'The safety of our community is paramount. This legislation is a critical step in holding malicious actors accountable, best protecting our schools and supporting our first responders by ensuring they are not burdened with the false threats of a prank,' Stefano said.
The legislation, which is part of a broader package to ensure schools are safe, comes in response to a troubling rise in hoax threats made against schools across Pennsylvania.
The bill heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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