A New York bill (S1114A) called the “Community Heroes Protection Act” was passed by the state senate last week. If it becomes law, the bill sponsored by Senator Fred Akshar (R-C-I, Colesville), would classify crimes committed against law enforcement, EMTs, and firefighters as hate crimes.

In current New York law, when a person is convicted of a hate crime and the specified offense is a misdemeanor or a class C, D or E felony, the hate crime shall be deemed to be one category higher than the specified offense or one category higher than the offense level applicable to the defendant’s conviction. Police officers and first responders are not currently included as victims in the current definition of a hate crime, the Daily Herald reports.

S1114A has a long way to go before it becomes law. To reach the governor’s desk for signature or veto It will have to be passed by the assembly. A vote in the assembly has not been scheduled.