Number: RL31314
Title: Anti-Hoax Legislation in the 107th Congress: Addressing Problems Since September 2001
Authors: Paul Starett Wallace, Jr. American Law Division 
Abstract: Since September 11, 2001, the number of false claims of terrorist acts has ballooned. These false claims have become a serious headache for law enforcement officials, who are overwhelmed with working overtime to prevent actual terrorist acts and the investigations of all suspicious and fake events. Under current law, it is a felony to perpetrate a hoax by claiming there is a bomb on an airplane or to communicate in interstate commerce a threat to do bodily harm or personal injury to another. However, current law does not address a hoax related to biological, chemical, or nuclear dangers where there is no specific threat. On December 12, 2001, the House passed H.R. 3209 which is designed to punish a variety of hoaxes not covered under current law. On December 12, 2001, H.R. 3209 was received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. A companion bill, S. 1719, which is identical to H.R. 3209 was also introduced in the Senate as well as other similar Senate bills with several significant differences regarding the standard of knowledge reflecting the degree of intent necessary for a conviction.
Pages: 15
Date: Updated March 1, 2002