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Assembly Bill A10621B

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Establishes the crime of interference with emergency first responders; safety buffer zone

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Current Bill Status - In Assembly Committee

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Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2025-A10621 - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S9974
Current Committee:
Assembly Codes
Law Section:
Penal Law
Laws Affected:
Add §240.80, Pen L

2025-A10621 - Summary

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.

2025-A10621 - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   10621
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 13, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  O'PHARROW  --  read once and referred to the
   Committee on Codes
 
 AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to  establishing  a  fifteen-
   foot  safety  buffer  zone  around  first  responders  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:

   Section  1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 240.80 to
 read as follows:
 § 240.80 INTERFERENCE WITH FIRST RESPONDERS; SAFETY BUFFER ZONE.
   1. A PERSON IS GUILTY OF INTERFERENCE WITH FIRST RESPONDERS WHEN  SUCH
 PERSON:
   (A)  KNOWINGLY  APPROACHES  OR  REMAINS WITHIN THE FIFTEEN-FOOT SAFETY
 BUFFER ZONE SURROUNDING A FIRST RESPONDER ENGAGED IN THE LAWFUL PERFORM-
 ANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTIES;
   (B) HAS BEEN GIVEN A VERBAL WARNING BY THE FIRST RESPONDER  TO  REMAIN
 OUTSIDE OF THE SAFETY BUFFER ZONE; AND
   (C)  KNOWINGLY  AND  WILLFULLY  FAILS  TO COMPLY WITH SUCH WARNING AND
 REMAINS WITHIN OR APPROACHES THE  SAFETY  BUFFER  ZONE  WITH  INTENT  TO
 IMPEDE, THREATEN, HARASS, OR OTHERWISE INTERFERE WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF
 SUCH FIRST RESPONDER'S DUTIES.
   2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   (A)  "FIRST  RESPONDER"  SHALL  MEAN  A POLICE OFFICER, PEACE OFFICER,
 FIREFIGHTER, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN, PARAMEDIC, OR OTHER EMERGENCY
 MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDER ENGAGED IN THE LAWFUL PERFORMANCE OF  OFFICIAL
 DUTIES.
   (B)  "SAFETY  BUFFER ZONE" SHALL MEAN AN AREA WITHIN FIFTEEN FEET OF A
 FIRST RESPONDER ENGAGED IN THE LAWFUL PERFORMANCE OF SUCH DUTIES.
   3. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO:
   (A) PROHIBIT OR  RESTRICT  THE  LAWFUL  RECORDING,  PHOTOGRAPHING,  OR
 OBSERVING  OF  FIRST  RESPONDERS,  PROVIDED  THAT  SUCH  ACTIVITY OCCURS
 OUTSIDE THE FIFTEEN-FOOT SAFETY  BUFFER  ZONE  AND  DOES  NOT  OTHERWISE
 INTERFERE WITH OFFICIAL DUTIES; OR
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD15214-01-6

co-Sponsors

2025-A10621A - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S9974
Current Committee:
Assembly Codes
Law Section:
Penal Law
Laws Affected:
Add §240.80, Pen L

2025-A10621A - Summary

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.

2025-A10621A - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                 10621--A
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              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:
 
   Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 240.80  to
 read as follows:
 § 240.80 INTERFERENCE  WITH  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; SAFE-
            TY BUFFER ZONE.
   1.  A PERSON IS GUILTY OF INTERFERENCE WITH 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 WHEN SUCH PERSON:
   (A) KNOWINGLY APPROACHES OR REMAINS  WITHIN  THE  FIFTEEN-FOOT  SAFETY
 BUFFER ZONE SURROUNDING A NEW YORK STATE, NEW YORK CITY OR LOCAL MUNICI-
 PAL  FIRST  RESPONDER,  A  JUDGE OF ANY COURT OF LAW OF THIS STATE, OR A
 STATE, COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL PROSECUTOR ENGAGED IN THE LAWFUL  PERFORMANCE
 OF OFFICIAL DUTIES;
   (B)  HAS  BEEN GIVEN A VERBAL WARNING BY SUCH FIRST RESPONDER, A JUDGE
 OR PROSECUTOR TO REMAIN OUTSIDE OF THE SAFETY BUFFER ZONE; AND
   (C) KNOWINGLY AND WILLFULLY FAILS TO  COMPLY  WITH  SUCH  WARNING  AND
 REMAINS  WITHIN  OR  APPROACHES  THE  SAFETY  BUFFER ZONE WITH INTENT TO
 IMPEDE, THREATEN, HARASS, OR OTHERWISE INTERFERE WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF
 SUCH  NEW  YORK  STATE,  NEW  YORK  CITY  AND  LOCAL   MUNICIPAL   FIRST
 RESPONDER'S, JUDGE'S, OR PROSECUTOR'S DUTIES.
   2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   (A)  "FIRST  RESPONDER"  OR  "NEW  YORK STATE, NEW YORK CITY, OR LOCAL
 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.

co-Sponsors

2025-A10621B (ACTIVE) - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S9974
Current Committee:
Assembly Codes
Law Section:
Penal Law
Laws Affected:
Add §240.80, Pen L

2025-A10621B (ACTIVE) - Summary

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.

2025-A10621B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                 10621--B
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              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 --
   again reported from said committee with amendments, 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 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:
 
   Section  1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 240.80 to
 read as follows:
 § 240.80 INTERFERENCE WITH 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  PROSECU-
            TOR; SAFETY BUFFER ZONE.
   1.  A PERSON IS GUILTY OF INTERFERENCE WITH 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  WHEN
 SUCH PERSON:
   (A)  KNOWINGLY  APPROACHES  OR  REMAINS WITHIN THE FIFTEEN-FOOT SAFETY
 BUFFER ZONE SURROUNDING A NEW YORK STATE, NEW YORK CITY OR LOCAL MUNICI-
 PAL EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDER, A JUDGE OF  ANY  COURT  OF  LAW  OF  THIS
 STATE,  OR A STATE, COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL PROSECUTOR ENGAGED IN THE LAWFUL
 PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTIES;
   (B) HAS BEEN GIVEN A VERBAL WARNING BY SUCH FIRST RESPONDER,  A  JUDGE
 OR PROSECUTOR TO REMAIN OUTSIDE OF THE SAFETY BUFFER ZONE; AND
   (C)  KNOWINGLY  AND  WILLFULLY  FAILS  TO COMPLY WITH SUCH WARNING AND
 REMAINS WITHIN OR APPROACHES THE  SAFETY  BUFFER  ZONE  WITH  INTENT  TO
 IMPEDE, THREATEN, HARASS, OR OTHERWISE INTERFERE WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF
 SUCH  NEW  YORK STATE, NEW YORK CITY AND LOCAL MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY FIRST
 RESPONDER'S, JUDGE'S, OR PROSECUTOR'S DUTIES.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

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