Senate Judiciary hears bill to require reports of false police reports; lawmakers seek clearer language on ID refusals

BISMARCK, N.D. — The Senate Judiciary Committee convened a hearing on House Bill 1194 on a proposal to require law enforcement officers to forward affidavits to state's attorneys when someone files a suspected false police report and to add penalties tied to identity refusals in lower-level offenses.

Representative Steve Vetter, R-District 18, introduced the bill and said its purpose is to ensure false accusations carry consequences. "False accusations have a victim, and they should have consequences," Vetter said, describing constituent complaints that officers did not file charges in cases they believed were fabricated.

The bill in its current form would require that when "someone files a complaint for false accusations or filing a false police report, the law enforcement officer agency would report an affidavit to the state's attorney on that individual for filing a fraudulent report," Vetter said, while noting the state's attorney would retain charging discretion.

Sheriff Jesse Jonner of Cass County testified that the change sought by the bill responds to practical problems for officers…