This bill proposes to amend the current statute regarding obstructing governmental operations by expanding the definition of the offense to include the hindrance of making a lawful arrest. Under the current law, a person commits the offense if they use or threaten violence to obstruct governmental functions, but it explicitly excludes interference with arrests. The bill would insert language to include "the making of a lawful arrest" as a specific act that can be obstructed, thereby making it a part of the definition of the crime.

Additionally, the bill reclassifies the offense of obstructing governmental operations related to hindering lawful arrests from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 5 felony. This change signifies a significant increase in the severity of the penalty for such actions. The bill also makes technical changes to ensure consistency in language throughout the statute. Overall, if enacted, the bill would strengthen legal repercussions for obstructing law enforcement during arrests.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-2402