File #: Int 1344-2025    Version: * Name: Prohibiting the obstruction of access to educational facilities.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Public Safety
On agenda: 7/14/2025
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the obstruction of access to educational facilities
Sponsors: Inna Vernikov
Council Member Sponsors: 1
Summary: This bill would prohibit any person from obstructing a student, staff member, or university employee from attending classroom instruction or student organization meetings and events taking place in an educational facility. This prohibited conduct would constitute a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.
Attachments: 1. Int. No. 1344, 2. Summary of Int. No. 1344, 3. July 14, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No. 1344

 

By Council Member Vernikov

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting the obstruction of access to educational facilities

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 10 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 10-187 to read as follows:

§ 10-187 Obstruction of access to educational facilities. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the term “educational facility” means any building, structure, or place, or any portion thereof, affiliated with an institution of education, including elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, colleges, and universities.

b. Prohibition. It is unlawful for any person:

1. To knowingly obstruct or prevent a student, staff member, or university employee from attending classroom instruction or student organization meetings and events taking place in an educational facility by physically striking, shoving, restraining, grabbing, or otherwise subjecting a person to unwanted physical contact, or attempting to do the same;

2. To knowingly obstruct or block the premises an educational facility, so as to impede access to or egress from the facility, or attempt to do the same;

3. To engage in a course of conduct within 15 feet of the premises of an educational facility when such behavior places another person in reasonable fear of physical harm, or attempt to do the same; or

4. To cause damage to an educational facility so as to interfere with its operation, or to attempt to do the same.

c. Violations. Any person who violates subdivision b of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not more than 6 months, or both.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 90 days after it becomes law.

REC

LS #19216

6/26/25 12:50 PM