ALBANY, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) – In light of the “swatting” incidents occurring across Central New York on Thursday, March 30, local lawmakers are taking steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Senator Joseph Griffo and Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon have each introduced bills in the state senate that would make such a thing a crime. The official charge would be “making a threat of mass violence” and would carry with it fines and jail time.

First-degree offenses would apply to anyone over the age of 18. It would be considered a Class D Felony, and if found guilty, offenders would spend at least three years in prison and be hit with a $35,000 fine. Anyone under the age of 18 can be guilty of the second-degree offense, which carries with it the same fine and at least ten days in a juvenile detention facility.

Individuals over 18 who make the threat against the school they are attending will also be charged with the second-degree offense.

Griffo’s bill is currently in the Senate Codes committee, while Buttenschon will be reintroducing her bill in the coming days.