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2024 Legislature SB 184, 1st Engrossed
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1
2 An act relating to impeding, threatening, or harassing
3 first responders; creating s. 843.31, F.S.; providing
4 definitions; prohibiting a person, after receiving a
5 warning not to approach from a first responder who is
6 engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty,
7 from violating such warning and approaching or
8 remaining within a specified distance 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 with specified intent
17 after a warning.—
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 correctional probation officer as
21 defined in s. 943.10(3), a firefighter as defined in s.
22 784.07(1), and an emergency medical care provider as defined in
23 s. 784.07(1).
24 (b) “Harass” means to willfully engage in a course of
25 conduct directed at a first responder which intentionally causes
26 substantial emotional distress in that first responder and
27 serves no legitimate purpose.
28 (2)(a) It is unlawful for a person, after receiving a
29 verbal warning not to approach from a person he or she knows or
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ENROLLED
2024 Legislature SB 184, 1st Engrossed
2024184er
30 reasonably should know is a first responder, who is engaged in
31 the lawful performance of a legal duty, to knowingly and
32 willfully violate such warning and approach or remain within 25
33 feet of the first responder with the intent to:
34 1. Impede or interfere with the first responder’s ability
35 to perform such duty;
36 2. Threaten the first responder with physical harm; or
37 3. Harass the first responder.
38 (b) A person who violates this subsection commits a
39 misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
40 775.082 or s. 775.083.
41 Section 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.
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