Bill

A 8221

Relates to assaults against water authority employees

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rebecca Kassay and 1 co-sponsor

A 8221 strengthens penalties and protections for assaults on water authority employees, aiming to deter attacks and improve safety for frontline utility workers.

REFERRED TO CODES

WeVote Research Nonpartisan

Bill Summary · A 8221

Summary: Bill A 8221 — Relates to assaults against water authority employees

Overview

Bill Number: A 8221
Title: Relates to assaults against water authority employees
Status: REFERRED TO CODES
Introduced: May 5, 2025
Legislative actions: Two entries indicating "REFERRED TO CODES" on May 5, 2025
Sponsors: Rebecca Kassay (primary), Steve Stern (cosponsor)

Note: The text of the bill is not provided here. This summary reflects information available from the bill’s title, introduction date, sponsorship, and the stated committee referral. Details on specific definitions, penalties, and implementing provisions require the actual bill language.

Purpose and intent (as indicated by the title)

The bill appears to address assaults against employees of water authorities. Typically, such legislation is intended to:
- Recognize assaults on public utility workers as a targeted category of offenses.
- Strengthen protections for individuals performing duties related to water supply, treatment, distribution, and related infrastructure.
- Provide for enhanced penalties or specific prosecutorial provisions to deter assaults and improve worker safety.

Potential key provisions (illustrative, not confirmed in the text)

Because the bill’s substantive text is not included, the following are common elements in similar measures and may or may not appear in A 8221:
- Definition of “water authority employee” and the scope of covered workers (e.g., frontline operations, maintenance, inspectors, emergency responders).
- Definition of “assault” in the context of assaults on public utility personnel (e.g., physical injury, threats, or intimidation while performing duties).
- Enhanced penalties for assaults on water authority employees (for example, higher classification of offenses, increased fines, or longer sentences).
- Provisions for aggravating factors based on circumstances (e.g., during the course of official duties, use of weapons, or injuries to the worker).
- Protections for reporting and prosecuting offenses, and potential alignment with existing public-safety or violence- against-public-employees statutes.
- Possible provisions for training, prevention, and cooperation with water authorities on safety measures.

Important: These are potential provisions commonly seen in related bills and should not be assumed to be in A 8221 without the actual text.

Who would be affected

Primary beneficiaries: Water authority employees and other public utility workers who perform on-site duties.
Affected parties: Individuals charged with assaults against water authority employees; water authorities and their contractors; law enforcement and prosecutors who handle related offenses.
Potential broader impact: Possible changes to penalties and enforcement could affect incident reporting, worker safety programs, and public attitudes toward safety around critical infrastructure.

Legislative process and timeline

Introduction date: May 5, 2025.
Current status: Referred to Codes. There is a duplicate entry for the referral on the same date in the record.
Next steps (typical): Assignment to a Codes committee, potential hearings or amendments, committee vote, floor consideration, and, if approved, passage by the chamber and transmission to the other house (if applicable) for further steps. Timelines depend on committee action and legislative schedule.

Notes for readers

To understand the exact scope, definitions, and penalties, review the official bill text and any fiscal notes or committee reports once available.
Track future actions for A 8221 in the Codes committee and on the chamber’s legislative calendar for scheduled hearings, amendments, and votes.

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