Bill > S01413

This bill establishes two new criminal offenses in the New York penal law: harassment of a law enforcement officer or a member of their family in the first and second degrees. First-degree harassment is a class E felony and occurs when someone intentionally communicates threats (via telephone, computer, mail, or other electronic means) to cause physical or property harm to a law enforcement officer or their family member, with the knowledge that such communication will cause reasonable fear for personal or property safety. Second-degree harassment, a class B misdemeanor, includes physically striking, shoving, or threatening a law enforcement officer or family member, following them in public places, or engaging in repeated acts that alarm or seriously annoy them without legitimate purpose. The bill broadly defines "law enforcement officer" to include active and retired city, state, and federal officers, such as police, sheriffs, correctional officers, and others with duties involving arrests, warrant execution, and supervising incarcerated individuals. The law applies regardless of whether the perceived status of the officer is accurate and covers threats or actions directed at the officer or their family members.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1413