A bill making it a crime to falsely accuse someone of a sexual crime was first read in the Alabama House of Representatives last week.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Dickie Drake, R-Leeds, would make falsely reporting a sex crime a Class C felony and punishable by up to 10 years in prison. If the accused is found not guilty, the accuser would be responsible for paying the accused person’s legal expenses.

It is already illegal to make a false police report in Alabama.

Kathleen Connolly, director of the Alabama Coalition Against Rape, said this bill would deter people from reporting sex crimes, which are already one of the most under-reported crimes.

“It’s not solving a new problem,” Connolly said. “It is a problem if someone makes a false report, and that’s rare. It’s an effort to silence men and women who are coming forward about sexual assault. It’s an effort to make them afraid to come forward.”

According to RAIN three out of four sexual assaults go unreported. According to a 2010 study by the University of Massachusetts between two and 10 percent of rape allegations are proven false.

Drake said he decided to create the bill because of a friend whose ex wife falsely accused him and his new wife of sexually abusing their kids.

“If they make an accusation, they better make sure it’s true and make them think twice before they make a false accusation,” Drake said.