MS SB2758

Amends Mississippi Code Section 97-37-21 to create the crime of "inducing panic" when a person causes evacuation of a public place or serious public panic by committing violations including false reports of bombs, weapons of mass destruction, or catastrophes.

Establishes three penalty tiers for inducing panic: (a) if physical harm occurs, $5,000-$10,000 fine or 3-20 years imprisonment; (b) if at a school, university, business, government building, or place of worship, $10,000-$25,000 fine or 5-25 years imprisonment; (c) if economic harm exceeds $1,000, discretionary fine up to the economic harm amount or 1-10 years imprisonment.

Increases the maximum penalty for general violations of the panic-inducing statute from 10 years to 20 years imprisonment and maintains the $10,000 maximum fine.

Defines "economic harm" to include lost wages, employee compensation costs, business shutdown costs, property damage, and costs incurred by government entities and first responders in responding to the incident.

Exempts lawful or authorized fire and emergency drills from prosecution and clarifies that lack of actual possession of a weapon of mass destruction is not a defense to charges under this section.