Assembly Bill 136 proposes to amend the current law regarding the impersonation of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and certain emergency personnel. Under existing law, impersonating these individuals is classified as a Class A misdemeanor. This bill seeks to elevate the severity of the crime by reclassifying it as a Class I felony. The bill introduces new legal language that specifies the conditions under which a person is guilty of this crime, stating that anyone who impersonates a peace officer, firefighter, emergency medical services practitioner, or emergency medical responder with the intent to mislead others is committing a Class I felony.

The bill also includes amendments to the existing statutes, specifically removing the previous classification of the crime as a Class A misdemeanor and replacing it with the new felony classification. The changes are intended to strengthen the legal consequences for impersonating emergency personnel, thereby enhancing public safety and trust in these critical roles. The Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report due to the creation of this new crime and the revision of penalties.