NY State Senate Bill 2025-S6203

Senate Bill S6203

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Establishes the crimes of reckless endangerment of an emergency service person in the first and second degrees

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Codes Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Mar 06, 2025	referred to codes

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2025-S6203 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Codes
Law Section:: Penal Law
Laws Affected:: Add §§120.26, 120.27 & 120.28, Pen L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2013-2014: S6254
2015-2016: S1188
2017-2018: S773
2019-2020: S6264
2021-2022: S3741
2023-2024: S3458

2025-S6203 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the offenses of reckless endangerment of an emergency service person in the first and second degrees.

2025-S6203 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S6203

SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the penal law, in relation to establishing the offenses
of reckless endangerment of an emergency service person in the first
degree and reckless endangerment of an emergency service person in the
second degree

 
PURPOSE:

To create the new crimes of reckless endangerment of a peace officer,
police officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services professional
in the first and second degrees.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends the penal law by adding new sections 120.26, 120.27,
and 120.28, as it relates to creating the crime of reckless endangerment
of an emergency service person in the first and second degree. A person
is guilty of reckless endangerment when they knowingly alter or convert

a building that impedes egress, and an emergency service person is
injured as a result. Reckless endangerment of an emergency service
person in the second degree is a class E felony. While a person is guil-
ty of reckless endangerment when they knowingly alter or convert a
building that impedes egress, and such conduct results in the death of
an emergency service person.  A person who is a repeat offender of reck-
less endangerment of an emergency service person would also be guilty.
Reckless endangerment of an emergency service person in the second
degree is a class D felony.

Section 2: Sets Effective Date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Building codes exist to protect residents, particularly first responders
and emergency personnel, from the dangers posed by fire and substandard
construction practices. Responding to emergencies is inherently danger-
ous, but the risks are significantly heightened when a building has been
illegally altered to accommodate more occupants.  Firefighters and other
emergency responders enter structures with the expectation of a specific
layout; however, illegal modifications-such as unpermitted walls, narrow
passageways, blocked exits, or other structural changes-can create
unforeseen hazards. Theie obstacles not only hinder rescue efforts but
also increase the peril faced by those navigating the building under
life-threatening conditions, such as smoke and fire.

Tragically, such circumstances have resulted in severe injuries and even
fatalities among firefighters and emergency personnel. A particularly
devastating example occurred in January 2005 in the Bronx when an apart-
ment fire became a death trap due to illegal structural alterations. Six
New York City firefighters, trapped by unauthorized walls, were forced
to jump from a fourth-floor window.  Two firefighters lost their lives,
and several others sustained severe injuries. While the building's owner
and former owner were initially convicted of criminally negligent homi-
cide, their convictions were later overturned due to a lack of evidence
proving they were aware of the illegal modifications.

A similar incident occurred in 2011 in Haverstraw, Rockland County, when
firefighters responded to a fire in what was supposed to be a single-fa-
mily home, only to discover that it had been illegally converted into a
rooming house. A volunteer firefighter, disoriented and running out of
oxygen, was forced to issue a mayday call.  Fortunately, his fellow
firefighters were able to locate and rescue him using a thermal imaging
device. Notably, the homeowner had been cited for code violations just
two weeks before the fire, highlighting the ongoing risks posed by unau-
thorized structural alterations.

Illegally modified or subdivided buildings present grave dangers not
only to their occupants but also to the first responders tasked with
saving lives. Our firefighters and emergency personnel play an invalu-
able role in ensuring public safety, and their well-being should never
be compromised for the sake of financial gain. Property owners who
engage in illegal modifications must be held accountable when their
actions result in injury or loss of life among first responders. Strong
enforcement of building codes and legal consequences for violations are
essential to preventing such tragedies in the future.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

Senate

2013: N/A

2014: S6254A, Advanced to Third Reading

2015: S1188A, Amend and Recommit to Codes

2016: S1188A, Referred to Codes

2017: S773, Referred to Codes

2018: S773, Referred to Codes

2019: S6264, Referred to Codes

2020: S6264, Referred to Codes

2021: S3741, Referred to Codes

2022: S3741, Referred to Codes

2023: S3458, Referred to Codes

2024: S3458, Referred to Codes

Assembly

2013: N/A

2014: A8644A, Amend and Recommit to Codes

2015: A5539A, Amend and Recommit to Codes

2016: A5539A, Referred to Codes

2017: A1691, Referred to Codes

2018: A1691, Referred to Codes

2019: A1797, Referred to Codes

2020: A1797, Referred to Codes

2021: A6087, Referred to Codes

2022: A6087, Referred to Codes

2023: No Assembly Same-As

2024: No Assembly Same-As

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law.

2025-S6203 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6203
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 6, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens. SKOUFIS, HARCKHAM, HINCHEY, MARTINEZ, MAYER, WEBER
   -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to
   the Committee on Codes
 
 AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to establishing the  offenses
   of  reckless  endangerment of an emergency service person in the first
   degree and reckless endangerment of an emergency service person in the
   second degree
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The  penal  law  is  amended by adding three new sections
 120.26, 120.27 and 120.28 to read as follows:
 § 120.26 DEFINITIONS.
   FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTIONS 120.27 AND 120.28 OF THIS ARTICLE, "EMER-
 GENCY SERVICE PERSON" SHALL MEAN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PERSONS:
   1. A FIREFIGHTER;
   2. A POLICE OFFICER;
   3. A PEACE OFFICER;
   4. AN EMERGENCY SERVICES PROFESSIONAL;
   5. A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER;
   6. A FIRE INSPECTION PERSONNEL; OR
   7. A BUILDING INSPECTOR.
 § 120.27 RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OF AN EMERGENCY  SERVICE  PERSON  IN  THE
            SECOND DEGREE.
   A  PERSON  IS  GUILTY OF RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OF AN EMERGENCY SERVICE
 PERSON IN THE SECOND DEGREE WHEN, KNOWING  THAT  A  BUILDING  PERMIT  IS
 REQUIRED   AND  WITHOUT  OBTAINING  SUCH  PERMIT,  SUCH  PERSON  ALTERS,
 CONVERTS, ENCLOSES, SUBDIVIDES OR PARTITIONS ANY BUILDING  OR  STRUCTURE
 IN  VIOLATION OF THE NEW YORK STATE UNIFORM FIRE PREVENTION AND BUILDING
 CODE OR ANY OTHER PROVISION OF GENERAL, SPECIAL OR LOCAL LAW, ORDINANCE,
 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, RULE OR REGULATION ADDRESSING STANDARDS FOR  BUILD-
 ING CONSTRUCTION AND FIRE PREVENTION IN A MANNER THAT IMPEDES A PERSON'S

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08770-01-5

 S. 6203                             2
 
 EGRESS  AND DURING A FIRE OR OTHER EMERGENCY EVACUATION AND SUCH CONDUCT
 RESULTS IN THE INJURY OF AN EMERGENCY SERVICE PERSON.
   RECKLESS  ENDANGERMENT  OF  AN  EMERGENCY SERVICE PERSON IN THE SECOND
 DEGREE IS A CLASS E FELONY.
 § 120.28 RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OF AN EMERGENCY  SERVICE  PERSON  IN  THE
            FIRST DEGREE.
   A  PERSON  IS  GUILTY OF RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OF AN EMERGENCY SERVICE
 PERSON IN THE FIRST DEGREE WHEN SUCH PERSON COMMITS THE CRIME  OF  RECK-
 LESS  ENDANGERMENT  OF  AN EMERGENCY SERVICE PERSON IN THE SECOND DEGREE
 AND:
   1. DURING SUCH FIRE OR OTHER EMERGENCY EVACUATION SUCH CONDUCT RESULTS
 IN THE DEATH OF AN EMERGENCY SERVICE PERSON; OR
   2. HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN CONVICTED WITHIN THE LAST TEN YEARS OF RECKLESS
 ENDANGERMENT OF AN EMERGENCY SERVICE  PERSON  IN  THE  FIRST  OR  SECOND
 DEGREE.
   RECKLESS  ENDANGERMENT  OF  AN  EMERGENCY  SERVICE PERSON IN THE FIRST
 DEGREE IS A CLASS D FELONY.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeed-
 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.

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Senate Bill S6203

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Sponsored By

James Skoufis

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Codes Committee

co-Sponsors

Pete Harckham

Michelle Hinchey

Monica R. Martinez

Shelley B. Mayer

2025-S6203 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S6203 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S6203 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S6203 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments