HF 2728 (LSB 6187YH (4) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2728

BY  LUNDGREN, GERHOLD, BRADLEY, BARKER, YOUNG, HENDERSON, DETERMANN, A. MEYER, COLLINS, GEHLBACH, LARSON, WILLIAMS, BODEN, FETT, MOORE, NORDMAN, FISHER, WATKINS, BLOOMINGDALE, STONE, HERMANSON, LATHAM, INGELS, HOLT, VONDRAN, WILZ, GEARHART, SITZMANN, JENEARY, SMITH, BLOM, and WOOD

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to obstructing first responders, and providing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  719.1B  Obstructing first responder after warning.
   1.  As used in this section:
   a.  “First responder” means a law enforcement officer, a probation or parole officer, a fire fighter, or an emergency medical care provider.
   b.  “Harass” means to willfully engage in a course of conduct directed at a first responder that intentionally causes substantial emotional distress in the first responder and serves no legitimate purpose.
   2.  a.  A person shall not, after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from an individual the person knows or reasonably should know is a first responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, knowingly and willfully violate the warning and approach or remain within twenty-five feet of the first responder with the intent to do any of the following:
   (1)  Impede or interfere with the first responder’s ability to perform the first responder’s duty.
   (2)  Threaten the first responder with physical harm.
   (3)  Harass the first responder.
   b.  A person who violates this section commits a serious misdemeanor.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to obstructing first responders.
   The bill prohibits a person, after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from an individual the person knows or reasonably should know is a first responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, from knowingly and willfully violating the warning and approaching or remaining within 25 feet of the first responder with the intent to impede or interfere with the first responder’s ability to perform the first responder’s duty; threaten the first responder with physical harm; or harass the first responder.
   A person violating the bill commits a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.