Florida Senate - 2023                                    SB 1126
       
       
        
       By Senator Avila
       
       
       
       
       
       39-00575A-23                                          20231126__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to impeding, provoking, or harassing
    3         first responders; creating s. 843.31, F.S.; defining
    4         the term “first responder”; prohibiting any person
    5         from approaching a first responder or remaining within
    6         a specified distance of such first responder, with
    7         specified intent, after receiving a warning not to
    8         approach; providing criminal penalties; providing an
    9         effective date.
   10          
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Section 843.31, Florida Statutes, is created to
   14  read:
   15         843.31 Approaching a first responder after a warning with
   16  intent to impede, provoke, or harass.—
   17         (1) As used in this section, the term “first responder”
   18  includes a law enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10(1), a
   19  firefighter as defined in s. 784.07, and an emergency medical
   20  care provider as defined in s. 784.07.
   21         (2)(a) It is unlawful for any person, after receiving a
   22  warning from a first responder not to approach, to violate such
   23  warning and approach or remain within 30 feet of a first
   24  responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of any legal
   25  or emergent duty, with the intent to:
   26         1. Interrupt, disrupt, hinder, impede, or interfere with
   27  the first responder’s ability to perform such duty;
   28         2. Provoke a physical response from the first responder; or
   29         3. Directly or indirectly harass the first responder or
   30  make so much noise that a first responder is prevented from
   31  performing their official duties or providing medical aid.
   32         (b) A person who violates this subsection commits a
   33  misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.
   34  775.082 or s. 775.083.
   35         Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2023.