SB268: SB268 Offenses Against Public Order; crime of interference with a first responder; provide

25 LC 48 1621S The House Committee on Judiciary, Non-Civil offers the following substitute to SB 268: A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, re lating to crimes and1 offenses, so as to include step-grandparent and step-grandchild relationship regarding the2 offense of incest; to provide for the crime of interference with a first responder; to provide3 for penalties; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting4 laws; and for other purposes.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes and offenses, is8 amended in Code Section 16-6-22, relating to incest, by revising paragraph (4) of subsection9 as follows:10 "(4) Grandparent and grandchild of the whole blood or the half blood or by virtue of11 adoption or step-grandparent and step-grandchild;"12 SECTION 2.13 Said title is further amended in Article 2 of Chapter 11, relat ing to offenses against public14 order, by adding a new Code section to read as follows: 15 S. B. 268 (SUB) - 1 - 25 LC 48 1621S "16-11-46.16 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:17 (1) 'First responder' means any person or agency who provides on-site care until the18 arrival of a duly licensed ambulance service. This shall inclu de, but not be limited to,19 persons who routinely respond to calls for assistance through a n affiliation with law20 enforcement agencies, fire suppression agencies, rescue agencies, and others.21 (2) 'Harass' means to willfully engage in any conduct directed at a first responder which22 intentionally causes substantial emotional distress in that fir st responder and serves no23 legitimate purpose.24 (b) A person commits the offense of interference with a first responder when he or she,25 after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from a person he or she knows or26 reasonably should know is a first responder, who is engaged in the lawful performance of27 a legal duty, knowingly and willfully violates such warning and approaches or remains28 within 25 feet of the first responder with the intent to:29 (1) Impede or interfere with the first responder's ability to perform such duty;30 (2) Threaten the first responder with physical harm; or31 (3) Harass the first responder.32 (c) A person convicted pursuant to this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of33 a high and aggravated nature."34 SECTION 3.35 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.36 S. B. 268 (SUB) - 2 -