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Lawmakers debate criminal protections for first responders and a contested 25-foot provision
Summary
Legislative counsel reviewed existing criminal statutes that protect certain professionals but identified coverage gaps for EMS and firefighters; committee members debated removing a proposed 25-foot proximity clause and instead defining obstructive conduct, while counsel warned against narrow carve-outs for journalists.
The Government Operations & Military Affairs committee examined whether existing criminal laws already protect first responders and whether new language in draft 2.3 should expand or clarify protections.
Legislative Council counsel Tucker Anderson summarized relevant statutes in Title 13 and noted they vary in scope: "...assault of a protected professional... 13 V.S.A. §1028," "interference with access to emergency services... 13 V.S.A. §1031," criminal threatening (13 V.S.A. §1702), impeding public officers (13 V.S.A. §3001), and a…
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