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A 5498

Establishes the crime of criminal use of public records

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Karl Brabenec and 5 co-sponsors

The HALO Act makes it a disorderly persons offense to knowingly approach within 25 feet of a first responder after being told to stay back, if it interferes or harasses.

HELD FOR CONSIDERATION IN CODES
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Bill Summary · A 5498

Summary: Assembly Bill A 5498 — Honoring and Listening to Our First Responders Act (HALO Act)

Overview

  • Bill number: A 5498
  • Title: Establishes the crime of criminal use of public records (Note: the provided title in the bill content is “Establishes the crime of criminal use of public records,” but the introduced version and statement describe the bill as the HALO Act protecting first responders. The HALO Act is the operative purpose described in the introduced text.)
  • Purpose: Create a new offense to protect first responders by prohibiting individuals from approaching within 25 feet after being instructed to maintain distance, if the approach would obstruct, impair, interfere with duties or threaten/harass the first responder.
  • Status: HELD FOR CONSIDERATION IN CODES
  • Introduced: March 24, 2025
  • Primary sponsor: Alec Brook-Krasny (with several cosponsors)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill seeks to honor and support first responders by mandating that the public maintain a safe distance when directed by a first responder performing official duties. It aims to deter interference, obstruction, intimidation, or harassment of first responders in the course of their duties.

Key provisions and changes

  • Name and citation: The act may be cited as the “Honoring and Listening to Our First Responders Act” or the HALO Act.
  • Definitions:
    • “First responder” includes any law enforcement officer, paid or volunteer firefighter, or paid or volunteer member of a duly incorporated first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad association.
  • Offense (Disregard of distance instruction):
    • A person commits a disorderly persons offense if, after receiving instruction from a first responder to maintain distance, the person knowingly approaches or remains within 25 feet of the first responder with the purpose to: 1) obstruct, impair, or interfere with the first responder’s official duties; or 2) threaten, intimidate, or harass the first responder in the performance of duties.
  • Non-exclusivity: The statute clarifies that this offense does not preclude prosecution under any other applicable law.
  • Penalties: Disorderly persons offense punishable by up to 6 months’ imprisonment, a fine up to $1,000, or both.
  • Effective date: Immediate upon enactment.
  • Relationship to existing law: The act supplements Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.

Scope and impact

  • Who is affected:
    • Individuals who are instructed by a first responder to maintain distance and then knowingly approach within 25 feet.
  • Who benefits:
    • First responders (law enforcement, firefighters, and members of first aid/EMS/rescue squads) by reducing interference, harassment, and threats in the line of duty.
  • Jurisdictional reach:
    • Applies to situations involving first responders performing official duties within New Jersey.

Procedural and timeline details

  • Introduced in the Assembly on March 24, 2025.
  • Referenced to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee.
  • As of May 13, 2025, status shown as HELD FOR CONSIDERATION IN CODES (listed twice in the record).
  • Related/companion legislation: S 4140 (companion bill); A 6388 (prior-session).

Legislative context

  • Related bills:
    • S 4140 (companion in the Senate)
    • A 6388 (prior-session)
  • Sponsors: Alec Brook-Krasny (primary), with cosponsors Robert Smullen, Michael Novakhov, Chris Tague, Karl Brabenec, David McDonough.

Potential considerations

  • The 25-foot distance standard is not further defined in the provided text (e.g., how distance is measured in dynamic street or crowd settings).
  • The offense is a disorderly persons offense, which is a mid-level offense; penalties may influence policing discretion and case outcomes.
  • The act explicitly states it does not preclude other charges, allowing for parallel prosecutions under other statutes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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