House File 821 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 821 BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY (SUCCESSOR TO HF 421) A BILL FOR An Act creating a civil action relating to harassment by the 1 reporting of false information to law enforcement authority. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 2173HV (1) 89 cm/jh

H.F. 821 Section 1. Section 708.7, Code 2021, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 07. A person injured by a violation of 3 section 1, paragraph “a” , subparagraph (4), may bring a civil 4 action against the person whose conduct violated section 1, 5 paragraph “a” , subparagraph (4). 6 EXPLANATION 7 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 8 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 9 Under Code section 708.7(1)(a)(4), a person commits the 10 crime of harassment when the person, with intent to intimidate, 11 annoy, or alarm another person, reports or causes to be 12 reported false information to a law enforcement authority 13 implicating another in some criminal activity, knowing that 14 the information is false, or reports the alleged occurrence 15 of a criminal act, knowing the act did not occur. This bill 16 provides that the person subject to such harassment may 17 institute a civil action for damages against the person who 18 committed the harassment. 19 -1- LSB 2173HV (1) 89 cm/jh 1/ 1