Establishes the crime of interference with first responders; creates a fifteen foot buffer zone around first responders engaged in the performance of their official duties.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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10621--A
IN ASSEMBLY
March 13, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. O'PHARROW, BUTTENSCHON -- read once and referred
to the Committee on Codes -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to establishing a fifteen-
foot safety buffer zone around a New York state, New York city and
local municipal first responder, a judge of any court of law of this
state, or a state, county or municipal prosecutor engaged in the
performance of their official duties
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 240.80 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 240.80 Interference with a New York state, New York city and local
4 municipal first responder, a judge of any court of law of
5 this state, or a state, county or municipal prosecutor; safe-
6 ty buffer zone.
7 1. A person is guilty of interference with a New York state, New York
8 city and local municipal first responder, a judge of any court of law of
9 this state, or a state, county or municipal prosecutor when such person:
10 (a) knowingly approaches or remains within the fifteen-foot safety
11 buffer zone surrounding a New York state, New York city or local munici-
12 pal first responder, a judge of any court of law of this state, or a
13 state, county or municipal prosecutor engaged in the lawful performance
14 of official duties;
15 (b) has been given a verbal warning by such first responder, a judge
16 or prosecutor to remain outside of the safety buffer zone; and
17 (c) knowingly and willfully fails to comply with such warning and
18 remains within or approaches the safety buffer zone with intent to
19 impede, threaten, harass, or otherwise interfere with the performance of
20 such New York state, New York city and local municipal first
21 responder's, judge's, or prosecutor's duties.
22 2. For the purposes of this section:
23 (a) "First responder" or "New York state, New York city, or local
24 municipal first responder" shall mean a police officer, peace officer,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15214-02-6
A. 10621--A 2
1 firefighter, emergency medical technician, paramedic, or other emergency
2 medical services provider engaged in the lawful performance of official
3 duties.
4 (b) "Safety buffer zone" shall mean an area within fifteen feet of a
5 New York state, New York city or local municipal first responder, a
6 judge of any court of law of this state, or a state, county or municipal
7 prosecutor engaged in the lawful performance of such duties.
8 3. Nothing in this section shall be construed to:
9 (a) prohibit or restrict the lawful recording, photographing, or
10 observing of a New York state, New York city, or local municipal first
11 responder, a judge of any court of law of this state, or a state, county
12 or municipal prosecutor, provided that such activity occurs outside the
13 fifteen-foot safety buffer zone and does not otherwise interfere with
14 official duties; or
15 (b) apply to a person seeking emergency assistance, providing aid, or
16 otherwise complying with lawful instructions from a New York state, New
17 York city or local municipal first responder, a judge of any court of
18 law of this state, or a state, county or municipal prosecutor.
19 Interference with a New York state, New York city, or local municipal
20 first responder, a judge of any court of law of this state, or a state,
21 county or municipal prosecutor is a class B misdemeanor.
22 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
23 have become a law.
