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Assembly panel advances bill to make repeat ‘swatting’ a wobbler, allow victim compensation
Summary
The Assembly Public Safety Committee voted to send AB 18 72 to Appropriations after testimony from law-enforcement trainers, civil-liberties advocates and public defenders. Supporters called swatting a life‑threatening abuse of 9‑1‑1; opponents warned the change could criminalize people with serious mental illness.
Assemblymember Ta introduced AB 18 72 on swatting, saying the bill targets adult repeat offenders who make false emergency reports that provoke armed responses and endanger civilians and first responders. "When our first responders show up to the site of a false report, people live at stake," Ta said during his opening presentation.
The measure would classify swatting as a "wobbler," allowing prosecutors to charge the conduct as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on circumstances, and would require perpetrators to compensate victims for…
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