Sec. 4.

(1) A person shall not intentionally make a false report of the abduction of a child, or intentionally cause a false report of the abduction of a child to be made, to a peace officer, police agency of this state or of a local unit of government, 9-1-1 operator, or any other governmental employee or contractor or employee of a contractor who is authorized to receive the report, knowing the report is false. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years or a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both.

(2) A person shall not intentionally make a false report that a child is missing who suffers from severe mental or physical disability that greatly impairs the child's ability to care for himself or herself, or intentionally cause such a report to be made, to a peace officer, police agency of this state or of a local unit of government, 9-1-1 operator, or any other governmental employee or contractor or employee of a contractor who is authorized to receive the report, knowing the report is false. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both.

(3) The court may order a person convicted under this section to pay to the state or a local unit of government and the media the costs of responding to the false report or threat including, but not limited to, use of police or fire emergency response vehicles and teams, pursuant to section 1f of chapter IX of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 769.1f, unless otherwise expressly provided for in this section.

(4) If the person ordered to pay costs under subsection (3) is a juvenile under the jurisdiction of the family division of the circuit court under chapter 10 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.1001 to 600.1043, all of the following apply:

(a) If the court determines that the juvenile is or will be unable to pay all of the costs ordered, after notice to the juvenile's parent or parents and an opportunity for the parent or parents to be heard, the court may order the parent or parents having supervisory responsibility for the juvenile, at the time of the acts upon which the order is based, to pay any portion of the costs ordered that is outstanding. An order under this subsection does not relieve the juvenile of his or her obligation to pay the costs as ordered, but the amount owed by the juvenile shall be offset by any amount paid by his or her parent. As used in this subsection, "parent" does not include a foster parent.

(b) If the court orders a parent to pay costs under subdivision (a), the court shall take into account the financial resources of the parent and the burden that the payment of the costs will impose, with due regard to any other moral or legal financial obligations that the parent may have. If a parent is required to pay the costs under subdivision (a), the court shall provide for payment to be made in specified installments and within a specified period of time.

(c) A parent who has been ordered to pay the costs under subdivision (a) may petition the court for a modification of the amount of the costs owed by the parent or for a cancellation of any unpaid portion of the parent's obligation. The court shall cancel all or part of the parent's obligation due if the court determines that payment of the amount due will impose a manifest hardship on the parent.

(5) As used in this section:

(a) "Local unit of government" means:

(i) A city, village, township, or county.

(ii) A local or intermediate school district.

(iii) A public school academy.

(iv) A community college.

(b) "State" includes, but is not limited to, a state institution of higher education.

History: Add. 2005, Act 205, Eff. Feb. 1, 2006