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Committee adopts amendment to House Bill 20; supporters say change protects first responders without curbing filming
Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee adopted an amendment to House Bill 20 creating a new obstruction offense for knowingly approaching or remaining within 15 feet of an emergency responder after a warning if the person interferes or threatens the responder; proponent witnesses from the Ohio Fire Chiefs Association and Fraternal Order of Police urged the change as a public‑safety tool and said the bill does not ban filming.
The Senate Judiciary Committee adopted amendment 1896‑1 to House Bill 20 during a hearing that also featured proponent testimony from fire chiefs and police advocates.
Vice Chair Reynolds moved the amendment, which ‘‘creates a new circumstance for obstruction if an individual, after being warned, approaches or remains within 15 feet of an emergency service responder and either interferes with or threatens the responder,’’ and the amendment was adopted "without objection," the chair announced.
Joseph Kitchen,…
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