(a) A person commits the offense of making false statements if that person wilfully makes a false statement that is in fact material, in writing, directly or indirectly, to any instrumentality of the District of Columbia government, under circumstances in which the statement could reasonably be expected to be relied upon as true; provided, that the writing indicates that the making of a false statement is punishable by criminal penalties or if that person makes an affirmation by signing an entity filing or other document under Title 29 of the District of Columbia Official Code, knowing that the facts stated in the filing are not true in any material respect or if that person makes an affirmation by signing a declaration under § 1-1061.13, knowing that the facts stated in the filing are not true in any material respect;
(b) Any person convicted of making false statements shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 180 days, or both. A violation of this section shall be prosecuted by the Attorney General for the District of Columbia or one of the Attorney General’s assistants.
CREDIT(S)
(Dec. 1, 1982, D.C. Law 4-164, § 404, 29 DCR 3976; Aug. 20, 1994, D.C. Law 10-151, § 113(e), 41 DCR 2608; July 2, 2011, D.C. Law 18-378, § 3(e), 58 DCR 1720; June 5, 2012, D.C. Law 19-137, § 121(b), 59 DCR 2542.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 22-2514.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 18-378, in subsec. (a), inserted “or if that person makes an affirmation by signing an entity filing or other document under Title 29 of the District of Columbia Official Code, knowing that the facts stated in the filing are not true in any material respect ”; and, in subsec. (b), added the second sentence .
D.C. Law 19-137, in subsec. (a), substituted “or if that person makes an affirmation by signing a declaration under § 1-1061.13, knowing that the facts stated in the filing are not true in any material respect” for “respect”.
Temporary Amendments of Section
Section 121(b) of D.C. Law 19-88, in subsec. (a), substituted “or if that person makes an affirmation by signing a declaration under section 113 of the Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Temporary Act of 2011, passed on 2nd reading on December 6, 2011 (Enrolled version of Bill 19-547), knowing that the facts stated in the filing are not true in any material respect.” for a period.
Section 302(b) of D.C. Law 19-88 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary amendment of section, see § 113(e) of the Omnibus Criminal Justice Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 1994 (D.C. Act 10-255, June 22, 1994, 41 DCR 4286).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 121(b) of Comprehensive Military and Overseas Voters Accommodation Emergency Act of 2011 (D.C. Act 19-230, November 16, 2011, 58 DCR 9942).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 121(b) of Comprehensive Military and Overseas Voters Accommodation Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2012 (D.C. Act 19-310, February 22, 2012, 59 DCR 1688).
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 4-164, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 22-2401.
Law 10-151, the “Omnibus Criminal Justice Reform Amendment Act of 1994,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 10-98, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on March 29, 1994, and April 12, 1994, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on May 4, 1994, it was assigned Act No. 10-238 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 10-151 became effective on August 20, 1994.
Law 18-378, the “District of Columbia Official Code Title 29 (Business Organizations) Enactment Act of 2009”, was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 18-500, which was referred to the Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on December 7, 2010, and December 21, 2010, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on February 27, 2011, it was assigned Act No. 18-724 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 18-378 became effective on July 2, 2011.
Law 19-137, the “Comprehensive Military and Overseas Voters Accommodation Amendment Act of 2012”, was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 19-356, which was referred to the Committee on Government Operations. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on February 7, 2012, and March 6, 2012, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on March 27, 2012, it was assigned Act No. 19-334 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 19-137 became effective on June 5, 2012.