1. (a) As used in this section, "consumer product" has the meaning set forth in IC 35-45-8-1 .
2. (b) As used in this section, "misconduct" means a violation of a departmental rule or procedure of a law enforcement agency.

3. (c) A person who reports, by telephone, telegraph, mail, or other written or oral communication, that:

   1. (1) the person or another person has placed or intends to place an explosive, a destructive device, or other destructive substance in a building or transportation facility;
   2. (2) there has been or there will be tampering with a consumer product introduced into commerce; or

   3. (3) there has been or will be placed or introduced a weapon of mass destruction in a building or a place of assembly;

      knowing the report to be false, commits false reporting, a Level 6 felony.

4. (d) A person who:

   1. (1) gives a false report of the commission of a crime or gives false information in the official investigation of the commission of a crime, knowing the report or information to be false;
   2. (2) gives a false alarm of fire to the fire department of a governmental entity, knowing the alarm to be false;
   3. (3) makes a false request for ambulance service to an ambulance service provider, knowing the request to be false;
   4. (4) gives a false report concerning a missing child (as defined in IC 10-13-5-4 ) or missing endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-7-2-131.3 ) or gives false information in the official investigation of a missing child or missing endangered adult knowing the report or information to be false;

   5. (5) makes a complaint against a law enforcement officer to the state or municipality (as defined in IC 8-1-13-3 (b)) that employs the officer:

      1. (A) alleging the officer engaged in misconduct while performing the officer's duties; and
      2. (B) knowing the complaint to be false;
   6. (6) makes a false report of a missing person, knowing the report or information is false;

   7. (7) gives a false report of actions, behavior, or conditions concerning:

      1. (A) a septic tank soil absorption system under IC 8-1-2-125 or IC 13-26-5-2.5 ; or

      2. (B) a septic tank soil absorption system or constructed wetland septic system under IC 36-9-23-30.1 ;

         knowing the report or information to be false; or

   8. (8) makes a false report that a person is dangerous (as defined in IC 35-47-14-1 ) knowing the report or information to be false;

      commits false informing, a Class B misdemeanor. However, the offense is a Class A misdemeanor if it substantially hinders any law enforcement process or if it results in harm to another person.

As added by P.L.126-2012, SEC.54. Amended by P.L.292-2013, SEC.11; P.L.158-2013, SEC.503; P.L.168-2014, SEC.79; P.L.107-2016, SEC.7; P.L.142-2020, SEC.70.