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Panel approves bill prohibiting counties from enforcing local rules penalizing calls for law enforcement
Summary
House Bill 249 clarifies earlier legislation by prohibiting counties and municipalities from enacting or enforcing ordinances that establish thresholds for summoning law enforcement or penalize those who summon emergency services. The subcommittee voted to advance the bill.
The Civil Law Subcommittee advanced House Bill 249, a measure that prevents counties and municipalities from enacting or enforcing local laws that set thresholds for summoning law enforcement or that penalize people for calling for emergency services.
A committee witness summarized the problem: the sponsor's intent in earlier legislation was to forbid both enactment and enforcement of ordinances that would limit or punish calls for law enforcement. "When the bill was passed, it only prohibited enacting. So these local municipalities can still enforce local laws that are still there," the witness said. The current bill clarifies the language to prohibit both enactment and enforcement.
Committee members described the change as correcting an oversight from the prior session. After discussion, a motion to advance the legislation was offered, seconded and adopted; the transcript records the motion passing with members indicating support by hand-raising.
