Georgia bill would impose harsher penalties on more 'swatting' calls

Swatting is a false 911 call that elicits an armed police response. (Matt Rourke/AP)

Georgia would strengthen penalties against false reports of shootings and bomb threats at homes, known as swatting, under a bill passed Monday by the state House.

The measure would also define a drive-by shooting as a separate crime.

The House voted 162-2 for Senate Bill 421, which was sent back to the Senate because the House amended it to add the drive-by shooting provisions.