State Sen. Patricia A. Ritchie has passed "Mark's Law" — again.

The bill, which would make killing a first-responder punishable by first-degree murder, is named after a Cape Vincent emergency medical technician who was killed in the line of duty.

But the bill has stalled in the Assembly. Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, slightly amended the bill, which meant that it had to be passed again.

“I've continued to push 'Mark's Law' because it's the right thing to do, and it's my hope that these changes, which were sought by the Assembly sponsor, will allow the bill to be passed in that house so it can become law," Mrs. Ritchie said in a news release after the bill passed for a second time on Tuesday.

The state legislative session ends on Thursday.

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