What's happening
This bill expands aggravated assault on a police or peace officer to include group assaults during public assemblies.
Why it matters
Broadens the definition of aggravated assault. to include situations where a police or peace officer is attacked by someone aided by two or more people during a public assembly—meaning group assaults, not just individual actions, can now be prosecuted under this more serious charge.
Lowers the injury threshold for aggravated assault. in group situations: while solo aggravated assault requires "serious" physical injury with a deadly weapon, the new language allows prosecution for the lesser standard of "physical injury" if the assault is carried out by a group during a public gathering.
Potentially increases criminal liability for protest participants. Individuals at public assemblies could face Class B felony charges if they participate in or are deemed to aid group assaults on officers, raising the legal stakes for actions during protests or demonstrations.
Aims to deter coordinated attacks on law enforcement. by signaling that group violence against officers—especially in the context of public assemblies—will be treated with the highest level of criminal seriousness, possibly affecting how law enforcement and the public approach large gatherings.
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Who cares
Police officers and peace officers
The bill would expand aggravated assault to cover intentional physical injury to an officer performing official duties when the attacker is aided by two or more people actually present at an assembly in a public place.
District attorneys
The bill would create an additional basis for a class B felony charge without requiring serious physical injury or use of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument.
People attending assemblies in public places
A person who intentionally injures someone they know or reasonably should know is an officer performing official duties could face a class B felony charge if aided by two or more others actually present.
Headline styles
Expand Assault Law for Officers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
294
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to aggravated assault upon a police officer
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 120.11 of the penal law, as amended by section 283 of the laws of 1993, is amended to read as follows: § 120.11 Aggravated assault upon a police officer or a peace officer.
A person is guilty of aggravated assault upon a police officer or a peace officer when[, with]:
(a) With intent to cause serious physical injury to [a] another person whom [he] such person knows or reasonably should know to be a police officer or a peace officer engaged in the course of performing [his] such police officer's or peace officer's official duties, [he] such person causes such injury by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument; or
(b) With intent to cause physical injury to another person whom such person knows or reasonably should know to be a police officer or a peace officer engaged in the course of performing such police officer's or peace officer's official duties and when aided by two or more other persons actually present at an assembly in a public place, as such term is defined in subdivision one of section 240.00 of this part, such person causes physical injury to such police officer or peace officer.
Aggravated assault upon a police officer or a peace officer is a class B felony.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01218-01-5
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.