House Committee Begins Hearings on Bill to Protect First Responders

COLUMBUS—The House Public Safety Committee Tuesday began hearings on House Bill 20, legislation to ensure first responders can safely and efficiently carry out their responsibilities during emergency situations, announced bill sponsors, State Representatives Thomas Hall (R- Madison Twp.) and Phil Plummer (R-Dayton).

The bill will create and designate the offense of harassing an emergency service responder, commonly known as a first responder, as a first-degree misdemeanor. The bill will also extend current law to include probation officers under the definition of emergency service responder.

“This is common sense legislation to allow our first responders the space to do their jobs,” said Hall during sponsor testimony. “Our first responders’ – police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and others – ability to safely and efficiently carry out their duties is essential to the functioning of our society.”

“As a former Sheriff, I understand the high stress situations our first responders can come across, and to alleviate any of those stressors allows for first responders to better address any given situation,” said Plummer “This bill simply allows first responders to focus on their duties and protect our community.”

House Bill 20 awaits further consideration from the House Public Safety Committee.