Bill > A04968

This bill, known as the "Penny for a Hero Good Samaritan Protection Act", aims to provide legal protections for individuals who intervene in emergency situations in good faith. The bill introduces the concept of "reasonable intervention", which means a person acting as a good samaritan will be protected from liability if their intervention was made in good faith to prevent imminent harm, even if the situation escalates beyond what was initially intended. The legislation modifies existing laws in the executive law, penal law, and civil rights law to clarify when a person can use physical force, including specifying that a person may use physical force when they reasonably believe intervention is necessary to maintain order, and may use deadly physical force only when they reasonably believe such intervention is necessary to prevent death or serious physical injury. The bill is inspired by the Daniel Penny subway incident and seeks to create a legal framework that encourages people to help others in distress without fear of legal repercussions. Additionally, the bill appropriates $500,000 for public service announcements and community-based training programs to educate citizens about good samaritan protections and responsibilities, with a particular focus on mental health crisis response and fostering a culture of helpfulness.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4968