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Bill

S 6203

Establishes the crimes of reckless endangerment of an emergency service person in the first and second degrees

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pete Harckham and 5 co-sponsors

Bill S 6203 establishes criminal offenses for reckless endangerment of emergency service personnel, enhancing their protection and imposing penalties on offenders.

REFERRED TO CODES
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Bill Summary · S 6203

Summary of Bill S 6203

Bill Number: S 6203
Title: Establishes the crimes of reckless endangerment of an emergency service person in the first and second degrees
Status: Referred to Codes
Introduced: March 06, 2025
Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

Bill S 6203 aims to establish specific criminal offenses related to the reckless endangerment of emergency service personnel. The intent of the bill is to enhance the protection of individuals who serve in emergency roles, such as police officers, firefighters, and paramedics, by creating legal consequences for actions that recklessly endanger their safety while they are performing their duties.

Key Provisions

The bill proposes the following key provisions:

  1. Definition of Offenses:

    • Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree: This offense would apply when an individual recklessly engages in conduct that creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury or death to an emergency service person.
    • Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree: This offense would apply to conduct that creates a lesser risk of injury but still endangers the safety of emergency service personnel.
  2. Penalties:

    • The bill outlines specific penalties for each degree of reckless endangerment, which may include fines and imprisonment, although exact terms are not specified in the provided information.
  3. Legal Framework:

    • The bill would amend existing statutes to incorporate these new offenses, providing law enforcement and the judicial system with clear guidelines on how to handle cases involving reckless endangerment of emergency service personnel.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Emergency Service Personnel: The primary beneficiaries of this legislation would be police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other emergency responders who face risks while performing their duties.
  • General Public: Individuals who engage in reckless behavior that endangers emergency service personnel could face criminal charges under this bill.

Procedural Aspects

  • Legislative Process: As of March 6, 2025, the bill has been referred to the Codes Committee for further consideration. This is an early stage in the legislative process, and further actions will determine its progression.
  • Related Bills: S 6203 is related to several prior-session bills (S 1188, S 6254, S 773, S 6264, S 3741, S 3458) and has a companion bill (A 8592) in the Assembly, indicating ongoing legislative interest in this issue.

Conclusion

Bill S 6203 seeks to create a legal framework to protect emergency service personnel from reckless endangerment, reflecting a commitment to ensuring their safety while they serve the community. As it moves through the legislative process, further details regarding penalties and specific definitions may be refined.

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

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