Senate Bill 2034

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY AND WILLFULLY MAKES A FALSE REPORT OF CHILD ABUSE, ABANDONMENT OR NEGLECT MAY BE CIVILLY LIABLE FOR DAMAGES SUFFERED INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) A person who knowingly, willfully and maliciously makes a false report of abuse, abandonment, or neglect of a child, or a person who, with malice, counsels another to make a false report, may be civilly liable for damages suffered by the subject of the report, including reasonable attorney fees and costs, as a result of the filing of the false report.

(2) A report is false under this section if no rational argument can be advanced in its support, when it is unsupported by any credible evidence, when a reasonable person could not have expected its success or when it is completely untenable.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.