Summary.
The bill proposes adding Chapter XII, entitled “Offenses Against Public Emergency Services,” to Title IX on offenses against collective security in Book Two of the consolidated Criminal Code (Código Penal) of the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá). The new chapter would contain Articles 337-A and 337-B. Its provisions address the work of public services responding to incidents and other dangerous situations and the communications received by emergency management services.
Proposed Article 337-A would penalize anyone who prevents or hinders the work of personnel of the Meritorious Fire Corps, the Single Emergency Prehospital Management System (Sistema Único de Manejo Emergencia Prehospitalarias), the National Civil Protection System (Sistema Nacional de Protección Civil), or other public emergency management services. It applies to personnel assigned to combat an incident or another calamity or misfortune that endangers people's safety. The proposed penalty for preventing or hindering their work is imprisonment for six months to one year or its equivalent in fine days. The provision covers both preventing those personnel from acting and making their work more difficult while they address the situations described.
Proposed Article 337-B addresses false alarms. It would impose a penalty of one hundred to three hundred fine days on anyone who, personally or through another person, gives a false alarm concerning an emergency or public calamity to the National Emergency System (Sistema Nacional de Emergencia) Nueve Uno Uno (9-1 -1) or to other emergency management services. The same penalty would apply to anyone who reports false, misleading or nonexistent information to the National Emergency System Nueve Uno, Uno (9-1-1). The proposed article thus covers giving a false alarm, including through another person, and reporting information with any of the stated characteristics.
Article 2 expressly identifies the addition of Chapter XII and its Articles 337-A and 337-B to the Criminal Code. Article 3 directs the National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional) to prepare a consolidated text of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Panama, with consecutive numbering, incorporating the changes provided for in the bill. Article 4 provides that the proposed law would take effect on the day following its promulgation.
The bill concerns the National Assembly and public emergency response services in the Republic of Panama, including the National Emergency System, the National Civil Protection System and the Single Emergency Prehospital Management System. Its provisions could also affect fire service personnel, other public emergency management services and people who communicate information about emergencies or calamities.
What it proposes.
- Offenses against public emergency services.
- Interference with emergency response personnel.
- False alarms and false reports to emergency services.
Who it would affect.
- People who prevent or hinder the work of emergency personnel.
- People who give false alarms, personally or through another person.
- People who report false, misleading or nonexistent information.
Key points.
- Proposes adding Chapter XII on offenses against public emergency services to the Criminal Code.Art. 1
- Would penalize preventing or hindering personnel responding to incidents or other situations that endanger people's safety.Art. 1
- Sets imprisonment of six months to one year or its equivalent in fine days for that interference.Art. 1
- Would impose one hundred to three hundred fine days for false alarms concerning an emergency or public calamity, including alarms given through another person.Art. 1
- Would apply the same penalty to reports of false, misleading or nonexistent information to the National Emergency System.Art. 1
- Identifies Articles 337-A and 337-B as the contents of the proposed chapter.Art. 2
- Directs the National Assembly to prepare a consolidated Criminal Code with consecutive numbering.Art. 3
- Provides for entry into force on the day following promulgation.Art. 4