Bill > S01132

This bill establishes the Bystander Protection Act, which increases criminal penalties when a person is harmed during an offense where a public official was the intended target. Specifically, the bill mandates that if an offense is committed against an innocent bystander during a crime targeting a public official (in certain specified articles of the penal code), the offender will be punished by elevating the offense to the next highest classification of crime. The bill provides a comprehensive definition of "public official" that includes state and federal elected officials, state and municipal employees, public authority members, and state-paid full-time judges. The definition is quite broad, encompassing everyone from the governor and state legislators to county employees and fire chiefs, with some specific exclusions. The act will take effect on the first of November following its passage, aiming to provide additional legal protection and deterrence for crimes that inadvertently harm innocent individuals while targeting public officials.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1132