Final New York state buffer bill to make blocking access to religious institutions a misdemeanor

A New York “buffer zone” law would make it a Class B misdemeanor to knowingly infringe on access or egress rights to a religious institution. It would also criminalize causing people entering or exiting to fear for their safety from a distance of less than 50 feet. The latest draft is less punitive than earlier proposals that would have treated obstruction as a low-level felony. The 50-foot enforcement zone would cover sidewalks as well as private parking lots and other entry points. The measure would explicitly include community centers and other facilities recognized by a reasonable person as places where religious adherents regularly gather for religious services, observance, prayer, assembly, education, instruction, or devotional practice, including religious schools. A Jewish advocacy group praised the impending passage and credited Governor Hochul and state legislators with supporting the proposal.

"The final version of a New York state "buffer zone" law will make it a Class B misdemeanor - one of the lowest levels of criminal offense - to "knowingly" infringe on the right of access or egress to a religious institution, or to cause those entering or exiting to fear for their safety from a distance of less than 50 feet."

"The language is less punitive than the legislation that Gov. Kathy Hochul initially endorsed, which would have made it a low-level felony for demonstrators to obstruct doorways and driveways at houses of worship. But the 50-foot enforcement zone in the latest draft is twice as large as the one described in the earlier versions of the bill, and would apply to sidewalks as well as private parking lots and other entry points."

"The measure would also explicitly cover community centers, as well as any other sort of facility that "a reasonable person would know that religious adherents collectively recognize as a place to regularly gather for or hold religious services, observance, prayer, assembly, education, instruction, or devotional practice" - indicating that the bill would also shield religious schools."

""We commend Governor Hochul and the state legislature for taking decisive action to protect New Yorkers by passing 'buffer zone' legislation, ensuring that safety and security remain a top priority across our communities," the group said in a statement to Jewish Insider. "Governor Hochul, Senator Sutton, and Assemblyman Lasher have demonstrated strong leadership in their unwavering effort to help ensu"

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