New York S 9974: Establishes the crime of interference with emergency first responders; safety buffer zone

Bill Text

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S09974 Summary:

BILL NOS09974 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A10621-B

&nbsp

SPONSORSCARCELLA-SPANTON

&nbsp

COSPNSRHELMING, MARTINEZ, MURRAY, PALUMBO

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §240.80, Pen L

&nbsp

Establishes the crime of interference with emergency first responders; creates a fifteen foot buffer zone around emergency first responders engaged in the performance of their official duties.

Go to top S09974 Actions:

BILL NOS09974 

&nbsp

04/20/2026REFERRED TO CODES

Go to topS09974 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS09974 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS09974 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9974

 IN SENATE

 April 20, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
 and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes

 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 emergency 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 emergency first responder, a judge of any court of
 5 law of this state, or a state, county or municipal prosecu-
 6 tor; safety buffer zone.
 7 1. A person is guilty of interference with a New York state, New York
 8 city and local municipal emergency first responder, a judge of any court
 9 of law of this state, or a state, county or municipal prosecutor when
 10 such person:
 11 (a) knowingly approaches or remains within the fifteen-foot safety
 12 buffer zone surrounding a New York state, New York city or local munici-
 13 pal emergency first responder, a judge of any court of law of this
 14 state, or a state, county or municipal prosecutor engaged in the lawful
 15 performance of official duties;
 16 (b) has been given a verbal warning by such first responder, a judge
 17 or prosecutor to remain outside of the safety buffer zone; and
 18 (c) knowingly and willfully fails to comply with such warning and
 19 remains within or approaches the safety buffer zone with intent to
 20 impede, threaten, harass, or otherwise interfere with the performance of
 21 such New York state, New York city and local municipal emergency first
 22 responder's, judge's, or prosecutor's duties.
 23 2. For the purposes of this section:
 24 (a) "First responder" or "New York state, New York city, or local
 25 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.
 LBD15214-05-6

 S. 9974 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 emergency first respon-
 6 der, a judge of any court of law of this state, or a state, county or
 7 municipal 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 emer-
 11 gency first responder, a judge of any court of law of this state, or a
 12 state, county or municipal prosecutor, provided that such activity
 13 occurs outside the fifteen-foot safety buffer zone and does not other-
 14 wise interfere with 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 emergency first responder, a judge of any
 18 court of 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 emergency first r