Republicans in the state Senate on Tuesday called for a package of bills meant to bolster protections for police officers across the state amid a broader push by Democrats in the state Legislature to continue with changes to criminal justice laws.

The measures come amid a year-long examination surrounding the role of police and law enforcement agencies in communities across the state and country following last year's protests and civil unrest stemming from the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

In the weeks and months since Floyd's death, state lawmakers in New York have called for, and approved, a series of bills meant to overhaul police conduct and provide more transparency, including a new law meant to provide more public access to police disciplinary records. Lawmakers this year are considering additional bills to address the criminal justice system, including reforms to parole and a "clean slate" bill to seal and expunge criminal records.

But Republicans in the Legislature have argued the pendulum has swung too far in the direction of criminal justice law changes at the expense of police safety.

"Since 2019, it’s been clear to most New Yorkers that the scales of justice in our state have tipped heavily in favor of violent criminals and, at the expense of our courageous law enforcement, as well as the men and women they are sworn to protect and serve. Bail reform has been a disaster. Our police are under constant attack," Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt said. "Murders and other violent crimes in many of our big cities have gone through the roof. It is time to halt this madness and get back to the basics of public safety, and that begins with protecting those who protect us. I’m proud to stand beside my colleagues in support of the first of our initiatives to restore common-sense and public safety in New York."

The proposed bills unveiled on Tuesday would boost penalties for assaulting a police officer, and another bill would strengthen penalties for causing a police officer to come into contact with a foreign substance, like a flammable liquid. Another bill would make it a crime to reveal information about a police or peace officer, known as "doxxing," in order to threaten or intimidate.

And Republicans want to make it a crime for falsely accusing a police officer of wrongdoing in their duties.

"Law enforcement officers face enormous challenges while on the job, and recent attacks on their profession have made their work even more dangerous," said Sen. Pat Gallivan, a former Erie County sheriff. "Too often police officers come under attack simply because they wear a badge and a uniform. Such disregard for law enforcement shows disregard for the rule of law necessary in a civilized society. We need to do more to support and protect the men and women who have dedicated their lives to keeping our fellow citizens safe. This legislation will help to do that."