Rep. Hall Fights to Protect Public Safety Employees

HARTFORD – State Rep. Carol Hall (R-59) recently co-sponsored a bill which enhances the criminal penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers and other first responders.

The legislation, HB-6258 An Act Concerning Intimidation On Account Of Occupation As A Public Safety Employee, would include within the offense of intimidation based on bigotry or bias, the act of a person intimidating or harassing another person because such other person is a police officer, firefighter or emergency medical technician.

“Coming from a family committed to serving the public, I feel this bill will act as a true deterrent for future acts of intimidation upon public safety employees,” said Hall.  “My husband has been a police officer for over 25 years, and now my son in his second year as an officer.  Not only will this bill, if passed, serve to protect them, it will also serve to protect firefighters and emergency medical personnel.  These members of our community sacrifice a great deal to protect us, and we need to do our part to protect them.”

Current statute applies to those who are intimidated or harassed based on disability, gender identity or expression, mental disability, intellectual disability, or physical disability and classifies such offenses in the first degree as a Class C felony.  H.B. 6258 seeks to amend current statute to also include public safety employees – ultimately classifying harassment and acts of intimidation against such personnel as an elevated offense.

To stay updated on H.B. 6258, or any other proposed legislation, please contact Rep. Hall at Carol.Hall@cga.ct.gov or call (860) 240-8700.