WPC& # VUNa % 0w@ 4   0G# 0Dj UF U: 06. 0Ddb 0J 0T 0^V 0h 0r 0| 0  B 0 1u= 0dU> D3TU*U6 0@B)'DCP AMU * bJv~(v AOy$$ 0D% D/% B&HP LaserJet 4 PlusHPPCL5MS0nLN(hH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX( $   X  TR[A' Legal[A' LegalA' LegalA' LegalT7XXd XXd7 @UABCDDEӀQURUSTڃ"3|xT((3t$  !   X  TR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T7XXdd7   `   0  (%$  1  .Courier New Regular,cAZ"Arial Regular(3^$  !   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JOHNKNOXWALKUPKnoxville,TN     AttorneyGeneralandReporter      MICHAELE.MOORE      SolicitorGeneral            ELIZABETHT.RYAN      AssistantAttorneyGeneral      Nashville,TN            H.GREELEYWELLS,JR.      DistrictAttorneyGeneral      NANCYSTALLARDHARR      BARRYP.STAUBUS      AssistantDistrictAttorneys      General      Blountville,TN       @ OPINIONAFFIRMED          BIRCH,J.ӛ Inthisappeal, 3   כwemustdeterminewhetherafalseresponsefromanindividualtoaninquirymadebyalawenforcementofficerconstitutesafalsereportwithinthemeaningofTenn.CodeAnn.3916502(a)(1)(1991).Aftercarefulreview,weholdthat3916502(a)(1)appliestostatementsvolunteeredorinitiatedbyanindividualbutdoesnotapplytostatementsmadeinresponsetoinquiriesbylawenforcementofficers.Accordingly,thejudgmentoftheCourtofCriminalAppealsisaffirmed. BettyLevandowski,thedefendant,wasconvictedofaggravatedchildabuseandmakingafalsereport.Onappeal,Levandowskiarguedthatthefalsereportstatutewas overlybroadandvague.Theintermediatecourtaffirmedtheconvictionforaggravatedchildabuseandreversedtheconvictionformakingafalsereport.WegrantedtheStatesapplicationforpermissiontoappealandlimitedthegranttothe falsereportissue.@ I OnMay19,1994,anofficerwiththeKingsportPoliceDepartmentwenttoLevandowskishometoinvestigateareportofsuspectedchildabuse.Uponarrival,theofficerspokewithLevandowskiandaskedtoseethechild.LevandowskirespondedthatshehadputtheboyonabustoChicagoandiftheofficerdidnotbelieveher,hecouldlookaround.Later,however,thechildwasfoundinaneighboringresidence.LevandowskiwassubsequentlyindictedforandconvictedofaviolationofTenn.CodeAnn.3916502(a)(1)forherfalseresponsetotheofficersquestionastothechildswhereabouts.@ II Theconstructionofastatuteisaquestionoflaw,andthus,ourreviewisdenovo.Rosemanv.Roseman,890S.W.2d27,29(Tenn.1994);TheBeareCo.v.TennesseeDept.ofRevenue,858S.W.2d906,907(Tenn.1993);ComdataNetwork,Inc.v.TennesseeDept.ofRevenue,852S.W.2d223(Tenn.1993). Astatutemustbeconstruedsoastoascertainandgiveeffecttotheintentandpurposeofthelegislationconsideringthestatuteasawholeandgivingwordstheircommonandordinarymeaning.Crowev.Ferguson,814S.W.2d721,723(Tenn.1991);MarionCty.Bd.ofComm'rsv.MarionCty.ElectionComm'n,594S.W.2d681,68485(Tenn.1980).TheCourtshouldassumethatthelegislatureusedeachwordinthestatutepurposelyandthattheuseofthesewordsconveyedsomeintent.Crowe,814S.W.2dat723;AndersonFish&OysterCo.v.Olds,197Tenn.604,277S.W.2d344,346(1955).Furthermore,thisCourtmayreviewpreviouslegislationonthesubjectinanefforttolearnthepresentintentionofthelegislature.Id.Inconstruingstatutes,courtsmustpresumethatthelegislaturehasknowledgeofitspriorenactmentsandknowsthestateofthelawatthetimeitpasseslegislation.Owensv.State,908S.W.2d923,926(Tenn.1995). Finally,penalstatutesareconstruedstrictlyandagainsttheState.Statev.Bobo,727S.W.2d945,952(Tenn.1987).Asageneralruleofstatutoryconstruction,anyambiguityinacriminalstatuteisconstruedinfavorofthedefendant.Statev.Blouvett,904S.W.2d111,113(Tenn.1995)(citingKeyv.State,563S.W.2d184,188(Tenn.1978)). Withthesecaveatsinmind,weturntothestatuteatissue.TennesseeCodeAnnotated3916502(a)providesinpertinentpart:8 8 Itisunlawfulforanypersonto:8 8 (1)Reporttoalawenforcementofficeranoffenseorincidentwithintheofficersconcern:8 8 ....8 8  (C)Knowingtheinformationrelatingtotheoffenseisfalse... Attheoutset,wenotethatthepreviousversionofthisstatutewaswordedmorebroadly:8 8 (a)Apersoncommitstheoffenseoffalsereportingtoauthoritiesifhe:8 8 ....8 8 (3)Makesareport,purposelycausesthetransmissionofareportorfurnishesinformationtolawenforcementauthoritiesconcerningacrimeorotherincidentwithintheirofficialconcernifheknowsthathehasnosuchinformationrelatingtosuchcrimeorincidentorheknowsthattheinformationisfalse....Tenn.CodeAnn.395524(1983)(emphasisadded).Thus,itisreasonabletoconcludethatinamendingthestatute,thelegislatureintendedtonarrowthesituationsinwhichitapplies. Wehavealsocarefullyreviewedthelegislaturesuseoftheterm reportinothersectionsofthecriminalcode.Thelegislaturehasconsistentlyusedtheterm reportincontextswheretheindividualinitiatestheprovisionoftheinformation,notincontextswhereanindividualisrespondingtoaninquiry.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.3913525(b)(Supp.1996)( thedistrictattorneygeneralshallconductacriminalhistorycheck....[and]reporttheresultsofsuchcriminalhistorychecktothecourt....);3914209(1991)(uponreceivinginformationthatahorseisfootsore,themanagerofthehorseshow shallreportthesameinwritingtothedistrictattorneygeneral....);3914902(2)(C)(i)&903(c)(2)(A)(Supp.1996)(moneylaunderingstatutedoesnotapplytosuspicioustransactions whetherreportableornotunderanystateorfederalcurrencytransactionreportingorrecordingrequirements,where:[s]uchpersonorcorporationreportssuchsuspicioustransaction....);3914909(Supp.1996)( [t]hereportingofafinancialtransactionbyacorporationorotherbusinessentitytoaregulatorshallnotcreateacauseofaction....);3915203(1991)(adoctorperforminganabortion shallmakeareporttothecommissionerofhealth....);3916606(1991)(wheneverapersonescapesfromcustody,theappropriatewarden shallimmediatelyreporttheescape....);39171312(Supp.1996)( Itisanoffenseiftheparent...knowsthatsuchminorisinillegalpossessionofafirearm...[and]failstoreportittotheappropriateschoolorlawenforcementofficials.).Incontrast,theperjurystatuteusesthephrase makeafalsestatement,whichisobviouslyintendedtoincluderesponsivestatements.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.3916701etseq.(1991).Thus,while reportcan,accordingtosomeofitsdictionarydefinitions,beusedinthecontextofaresponsetoaquestion,thelegislaturehasnotutilizedtheterminthismanner.Arguably,thestatuteisambiguous.Webelievethebettercourseistoconstrue reportasusedinTenn.CodeAnn.3916502consistentwithitsuseintheothersectionsofthecriminalcode.Asacriminalstatute,3916502isalsosubjecttostrictconstructioninfavorofthedefendant. Wealsonotethatthelegislaturedefinedtheterm statementinthesubsectionimmediatelyprecedingthesubsectionatissuehere.Hadthelegislatureintended3916502toapplytoresponsivestatements,theobvioustermtousewouldhavebeen statement.ThecourtinPeoplev.Smith,281P.2d103131Cal.App.2dSupp.889(Cal.App.DeptSuper.Ct.1955)reachedasimilarconclusion:8 8 wehaveconcludedthatifithadbeentheintentoftheCityCounciltoproscribeconductsuchasthatdisclosedbytheevidencehere,itwouldhaveusedlanguagesubstantiallydifferentfromthatwhichitdid.Itseemsreasonablethatinsuchcircumstancesitwouldhaveprovidedthatitshouldbeunlawfulforanypersontowillfullymakeafalsestatementtoapoliceofficerforthepurposestatedratherthanusingtheword report,whichinitscontext,atleast,seemstoconnoteastatementwrittenororalmadeupontheinitiativeofonewhoresortstothepolicedepartmentoramemberthereofforthespecificpurposeofhavingsomeactiontakenwithrespecttheretoratherthanbywayofresponsetoquestionsbyanofficer....Id.at104. Weholdtodaythat reportasusedinTenn.CodeAnn.3916502appliestoawrittenororalstatementinitiatedbyaperson.Inthiscontext, reportdoesnotapplytoapersonsresponsetoaninquirybyalawenforcementofficer. ItresultsthatthejudgmentoftheCourtofCriminalAppealsisaffirmed.CostsaretaxedtotheState,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary.     ____________________________________     ADOLPHOA.BIRCH,JR.,Justice̜CONCUR:Anderson,C.J.Reid,J.DISSENT:Drowota,Holder,JJ., 4    4   X    17XXd XXd7  &++Xd&ӛJ04;+'b|` \+ `@Jߛ@ INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE@ ATKNOXVILLE@ (HEARDATMORRISTOWN)STATEOFTENNESSEE,   )  FORPUBLICATION       ) Appellant,    ) SullivanCounty      ) v.      ) Hon.R.JerryBeck,      ) JudgeBETTYD.LEVANDOWSKI,  )       ) No.03S019611CR00116 Appellee    ) @ DISSENTINGOPINION  IdissentfromthemajoritydecisioninterpretingTenn.CodeAnn3916502(a)(1)(1991Repl.)asapplyingonlytofalsestatementsinitiatedbyanindividualtotheexclusionoffalsestatementsgiveninresponsetoinquiriesbylawenforcementofficials.Forthereasonsexplainedbelow,themajoritysinterpretationiscontrarytotheplainlanguageofthestatute.Therefore,IwouldreversetheCourtofCriminalAppealsdecisionandaffirmthedefendantsconvictionformakingafalsereport.  @ STATUTORYINTERPRETATION  Themostbasicprincipleofstatutoryconstructionistoascertainandgiveeffecttolegislativeintent.Owensv.State,908S.W.2d923,926(Tenn.1995).Legislativeintentistobeascertainedwheneverpossiblefromthenaturalandordinarymeaningofthelanguageused,withoutforcedorsubtleconstructionthatwouldlimitorextendthemeaningofthelanguage.CarsonCreekVacationResorts,Inc.v.State,Dept.ofRevenue,865S.W.2d1,2(Tenn.1993)(emphasisadded).CourtsmustpresumethattheGeneralAssemblyintendedthateverywordusedinastatutewouldhaveapurposeandconveyameaning.Cohenv.Cohen,937S.W.2d823,827(Tenn.1996).Thepresenceofwordsoflimitationinonepartofastatuteindicatesthattheabsenceofsuchwordsfromotherpartsofthesamestatuteisanintentionallegislativechoice.Statev.Harkins,811S.W.2d79,82(Tenn.1992).Ifthelegislativeintentisexpressedinamannerdevoidofcontradictionandambiguity,thereisnoroomforinterpretationorconstructions,andcourtsarenotatliberty,onconsiderationofpolicyorhardshiptodepartfromthewordsofthestatute.CarsonCreekVacationResorts,Inc.,865S.W.2dat2.Wherethelanguagecontainedwithinthefourcornersofastatuteisplain,clear,andunambiguous,thedutyofthecourtsissimpleandobvious, tosaysiclexscripta,andobeyit.Id.,quotingMillerv.Childress,21Tenn.(2Hum.)319,32122(1841).̛̜ ThelanguagecontainedwithinthefourcornersofTenn.CodeAnn.3916502(a)isnotambiguous.Thestatuteprovidesasfollows:8 (a)Itisunlawfulforanypersonto:8 (1) Report toalawenforcementofficeranoffenseorincidentwithintheofficersconcern:8 8 (A)Knowingtheoffenseorincidentdidnotoccur;8 8 (B)Knowingthepersonreportinghasnoinformationrelatingtotheoffenseorincident;or8 8 (C)Knowingtheinformationrelatingtotheoffenseisfalse; or 8 (2) Intentionallyinitiateorcirculate areportofapast,present,orimpendingbombing,fireorotheremergency,knowingthatthereportisfalseorbaselessandknowing:8 8 (A)Itwillcauseactionofanysortbyanofficialorvolunteeragencyorganizedtodealwiththoseemergencies;8 8 (B)Itwillplaceapersoninfearofimminentseriousbodilyinjury;or8 8 (C)Itwillpreventorinterrupttheoccupationofanybuilding,placeofassembly,formofconveyance,oranyotherplacetowhichthepublichasaccess.(Emphasisadded.)Thenaturalandordinarymeaningoftheword report,includesstatementsgiveninresponsetoinquiriesbylawenforcementofficials.To reportsimplymeans [t]ogiveanaccountof,torelate,totell,toconveyordisseminateinformation.BlacksLawDictionary,1300(6thed.1990).Themajoritysinterpretationisanunwarrantedlimitationofthemeaningofthelanguageofthestatute,incontraventionofthisCourtsduty. Wherethelanguageofastatuteisfreefromambiguity,resorttoextrinsicaidstodeterminelegislativeintentisnotappropriate.Rosemanv.Roseman,890S.W.2d27,29(Tenn.1994);CarsonCreekVacationResorts,Inc.,865S.W.2dat2.Becausethelanguageofthestatuteatissueinthiscaseisclear,themajoritysrelianceuponextrinsicaidstodeterminelegislativeintentisinappropriateandunnecessary.However,evenifstatutorylanguageisambiguous,whendiscerninglegislativeintentitisonlyappropriatetoconsiderstatutes inparimateriathoserelatingtothesamesubjectorhavingacommonpurpose.Owens,908S.W.2dat926.Inthiscase,themajorityreliesuponthedefinitionoftheterm reportinotherunrelatedstatutestosupportitsinterpretation.ConspicuouslyabsentfromthemajoritydecisionisadiscussionoftheotherwordsusedintheremainderofthestatuteatissuewhichexpresslylimitapplicationofTenn.CodeAnn.3916502(a)(2)(1991Repl.)tofalsereports intentionallyinitiate[d]orcirculate[d]byindividuals.Itisclearthat,hadtheGeneralAssemblyintendedtolimitapplicationofTenn.CodeAnn.3916502(a)(1)todeclarantinitiatedfalsereports,appropriatelanguagewasavailabletodoso.Therefore,theabsenceofanexpresslimitationfromsubsection(a)(1)militatesagainsttheinterpretationadoptedbythemajorityandindicatesthattheGeneralAssemblydeliberatelychosetogivethatsubsectionabroadapplication.Harkins,811S.W.2dat82. Finally,theimportantelementtoconsiderindeterminingwhetherafalsereporthasbeenmadeiswhetherthepersongavethereportknowing(A)theoffenseorincidentdidnotoccur;(B)thepersonreportinghasnoinformationrelatingtotheoffenseorincident;or(C)theinformationrelatingtotheoffenseisfalse.Tenn.CodeAnn.3916502(a)(1)(1991Repl.).Byfocusinguponthepartyinitiatingthecontactduringwhichthefalsestatementisgiven,themajorityexaltsϜformoversubstance.SeeStatev.Fenster,199A.2d177(Conn.Cir.Ct.1962)(socharacterizingthedefinitionof reportadoptedinPeoplev.Smith,281P.2d103(Cal.App.DeptSuper.Ct.1955),uponwhichthemajorityinthiscaserely.) Iwouldhold,asJudgeJerrySmithheldinhisdissentintheCourtofCriminalAppeals,that report,asusedinTenn.CodeAnn.3916502(1991Repl.),includesstatementsgiveninresponsetoinquiriesbylawenforcementofficials.Therefore,IwouldreversetheCourtofCriminalAppealsdecisionandaffirmthedefendantsconvictionofmakingafalsereport.Irespectfullydissentfromthemajoritysdecision.Ӝ IamauthorizedtostatethatJusticeHolderconcursinthisDissentingOpinion.̛       ________________________________      FrankF.Drowota,III,      Justice