S4776

The New York State Senate passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Chris Ryan to amend the Penal Law and address false reports of deadly weapons and dangerous instruments, commonly known as 'swatting.' The bill passed on a roll call vote, 58-0. Ryan spoke in support of the measure, characterizing swatting as malicious and deliberate acts that divert emergency services, instill fear, and cause trauma to students, educators, and families who have experienced gun violence in schools. He argued that current state law inadequately addresses the severity of such false reports and that the legislation will send a clear message that intentionally causing panic and misusing emergency response systems will not be tolerated. Ryan stated the bill serves both as punishment and as a deterrent to future incidents while holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. The measure now goes to the Assembly for consideration.