Florida Senate - 2021                                    SB 1912
       
       
        
       By Senator Burgess
       
       
       
       
       
       20-01399A-21                                          20211912__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to impeding, provoking, or harassing
    3         law enforcement officers; creating s. 843.31, F.S.;
    4         defining the term “law enforcement officer”;
    5         prohibiting approaching a law enforcement officer or
    6         remaining within a specified distance of such officer
    7         with specified intent after receiving a warning not to
    8         approach; providing criminal penalties; providing an
    9         effective date.
   10          
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Section 843.31, Florida Statutes, is created to
   14  read:
   15         843.31 Approaching a law enforcement officer after a
   16  warning with intent to impede, provoke, or harass.—
   17         (1) As used in this section, the term “law enforcement
   18  officer” has the same meaning as in s. 943.10(1).
   19         (2)(a) It is unlawful for any person, after receiving a
   20  warning from a law enforcement officer not to approach, to
   21  violate such warning and approach or remain within 30 feet of a
   22  law enforcement officer who is engaged in the lawful performance
   23  of any legal duty with the intent to:
   24         1. Interrupt, disrupt, hinder, impede, or interfere with
   25  the law enforcement officer’s ability to perform such duty;
   26         2. Provoke a physical response from the law enforcement
   27  officer; or
   28         3. Directly or indirectly harass the law enforcement
   29  officer.
   30         (b) A person who violates this subsection commits a
   31  misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
   32  775.082 or s. 775.083.
   33         Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2021.