In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation that will create Pennsylvania’s “Halo Law” to help ensure the safety of our first responders.

First responders, including police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical service personnel, are on the front lines each and every day to protect and render necessary aid to communities across the Commonwealth. Often times our first responders arrive at chaotic or even dangerous scenes to fulfill their duties. These scenes can become even more dangerous for first responders when other individuals attempt to impede or interfere with the performance of their duties or otherwise threaten or harass the first responder.

My legislation will take a step forward in protecting first responders and others by creating a 25-foot safety zone around first responders while they are performing their duties in certain situations. Specifically, if a person receives a verbal warning not to approach from a first responder and that person knowingly violates that warning and remains within 25 feet of the first responder with the intent to impede the first responder’s ability to perform their duties or threatens or harasses them, they will be held criminally liable.

I am certainly cognizant that some individuals feel this type of legislation may restrict certain First Amendment protections. To make sure there is no confusion about the impact of this legislation on these protections, the bill includes a provision that makes clear that nothing in the bill is to be construed as limiting otherwise protected conduct under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and Pennsylvania Constitution.

This legislation is similar to the recent “Halo law” that went into effect at the beginning of the year in Florida. It is absolutely imperative that our first responders can perform their critical duties in as safe a scene as possible and this legislation will help ensure that.

Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation.