CS/HB 75 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0075-01-c1
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to impeding, threatening, or harassing 2
first responders; creating s. 843.31, F.S.; providing 3
definitions; specifying that peaceful recording, 4
photographing, or observation is not harassment; 5
prohibiting approaching a first responder or remaining 6
within a specified distance of such person with the 7
intent to impede, threaten, or harass the person after 8
receiving a warning not to approach; providin g 9
criminal penalties; providing an effective date. 10
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12
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Section 1. Section 843.31, Florida Statutes, is created to 14
read: 15
843.31 Approaching a first responder with specified intent 16
after a warning.— 17
(1) As used in this section, the term: 18
(a) "First responder" includes a law enforcement officer 19
as defined in s. 943.10(1), a firefighter as defined in s. 20
784.07(1), and an emergency medical care provider as defined in 21
s. 784.07(1). 22
(b) "Harass" means to willfully engage in a course of 23
conduct directed at a first responder which intentionally causes 24
substantial emotional distress in that first responder and 25
CS/HB 75 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0075-01-c1
Page 2 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
serves no legitimate purpose. The peaceful audio or video 26
recording, photographing, or e yewitness observing of a first 27
responder is a legitimate purpose that does not, by itself, 28
constitute harassment. 29
(2)(a) It is unlawful for a person, after receiving a 30
verbal warning not to approach from a person he or she knows or 31
reasonably should know is a first responder, who is engaged in 32
the lawful performance of a legal duty, to knowingly and 33
willfully violate such warning and approach or remain within 20 34
feet of the first responder with the intent to: 35
1. Interrupt, disrupt, hinder, impede, or in terfere with 36
the first responder's ability to perform such duty; 37
2. Threaten the first responder with physical harm; or 38
3. Harass the first responder. 39
(b) A person who violates this subsection commits a 40
misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 41
775.082 or s. 775.083. 42
Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2024. 43