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Committee hears first testimony on bill to create 14-foot buffer around first responders
Summary
Sponsors of House Bill 20 testified for a misdemeanor offense and 14-foot "halo" buffer to keep bystanders back at emergency scenes; committee members raised questions about overlap with existing obstruction laws, enforcement, and carve-outs for grieving relatives.
House Public Safety Committee members heard sponsor testimony Tuesday on House Bill 20, which would allow first responders to establish a 14-foot buffer — described by sponsors as a "halo" — around emergency scenes and make breaching that zone a misdemeanor.
The bill’s sponsors, Representative Thomas Hall and Representative Phil Plummer, said the measure is intended to keep police, firefighters and EMS able to work without interference. "This is simply providing the first the first responders the ability and opportunity to do their jobs more effectively and remain focused on the incident at hand," Hall told the committee. Plummer described the measure as "very simple legislation" and said it includes a warning before enforcement: "Just give us 14 feet to do our jobs, and we will work on the other issues."
Supporters said the 14-foot figure provides a clear, portable measure to protect responders…
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