Florida Senate - 2023                             CS for SB 1126
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Criminal Justice; and Senator Avila
       
       
       
       
       
       591-03146-23                                          20231126c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to impeding, threatening, or harassing
    3         first responders; creating s. 843.31, F.S.; defining
    4         the terms “first responder” and “harass”; prohibiting
    5         a person, after receiving a warning not to approach
    6         from a first responder who is engaged in the lawful
    7         performance of a legal duty, to violate such warning
    8         and approach or remain within 20 feet of the first
    9         responder with specified intent; providing criminal
   10         penalties; providing an effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Section 843.31, Florida Statutes, is created to
   15  read:
   16         843.31 Approaching a first responder after a warning with
   17  intent to impede, provoke, or harass.—
   18         (1) As used in this section, the term:
   19         (a) “First responder” includes a law enforcement officer as
   20  defined in s. 943.10(1), a firefighter as defined in s. 784.07,
   21  and an emergency medical care provider as defined in s. 784.07.
   22         (b) “Harass” means to engage in a course of conduct
   23  directed at a first responder which causes substantial emotional
   24  distress in that first responder and serves no legitimate
   25  purpose.
   26         (2)(a) It is unlawful for a person, after receiving a
   27  warning not to approach from a first responder who is engaged in
   28  the lawful performance of a legal duty, to violate such warning
   29  and approach or remain within 20 feet of the first responder
   30  with the intent to:
   31         1. Interrupt, disrupt, hinder, impede, or interfere with
   32  the first responder’s ability to perform such duty;
   33         2. Threaten the first responder with physical harm; or
   34         3. Harass the first responder or make so much noise that a
   35  first responder is prevented from performing their official
   36  duties or providing medical aid.
   37         (b) A person who violates this subsection commits a
   38  misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.
   39  775.082 or s. 775.083.
   40         Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2023.