What's happening
This bill updates the law on obstructing firefighting operations to use gender-neutral language and include interfering with firefighters providing emergency medical care.
Why it matters
Expands legal protection to firefighters providing emergency medical care. not just those putting out fires—making it a crime to interfere with life-saving actions at accident scenes or medical emergencies.
Modernizes terminology. to reflect current, inclusive language, which may help ensure that all firefighters, regardless of gender, are equally protected under the law.
Clarifies and broadens the scope of criminal obstruction. so that individuals who disrupt emergency medical assistance (not only fire suppression) can be prosecuted, potentially improving safety and response effectiveness for both first responders and the public.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Firefighter Protection Law
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by S1022
- Advanced to third reading cal.449
- Reported
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Broaden Firefighter Obstruction Law
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Rich Funke
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6756
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 17, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. MORELLE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to the crime of obstructing firefighting operations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 195.15 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 731 of the laws of 1981, is amended to read as follows: § 195.15 Obstructing firefighting operations.
A person is guilty of obstructing firefighting operations when he or she intentionally and unreasonably obstructs the efforts of any:
1. [fireman] firefighter in extinguishing a fire, or prevents or dissuades another from extinguishing or helping to extinguish a fire; [or]
2. [fireman] firefighter, police officer or peace officer in performing his or her duties in circumstances involving an imminent danger created by an explosion, threat of explosion or the presence of toxic fumes or gases; or
3. firefighter performing emergency medical care on a sick or injured person.
Obstructing firefighting operations is a class A misdemeanor.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04163-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.