Pennsylvania SB 279: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in sales and use tax, further providing for exclusions from tax.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 233
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 279
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY STREET, KEARNEY, HUGHES, SCHWANK, COSTA, HAYWOOD
AND KANE, FEBRUARY 25, 2025
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 25, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in employees, providing for use of
force and deadly force policy for law enforcement agencies;
imposing duties on the Municipal Police Officers' Education
and Training Commission; and making an editorial change.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Subchapter C heading of Chapter 21 of Title 53 of
the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
SUBCHAPTER C
[(Reserved)]
USE OF FORCE AND DEADLY FORCE POLICY
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
Section 2. Subchapter C of Chapter 21 of Title 53 is amended
by adding sections to read:
§ 2141. Policy.
It is the policy of the Commonwealth to provide law
enforcement agencies and law enforcement officers with clear
guidelines and training regarding the use of force and deadly
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force.
§ 2142. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Choke hold." A physical maneuver that restricts an
individual's ability to breathe for the purposes of
incapacitation.
"Commission." The Municipal Police Officers' Education and
Training Commission.
"Deadly force." Force which, under the circumstances in
which it is used, is readily capable of causing death or serious
bodily injury.
"Force." Efforts used by a law enforcement officer that may
result in serious bodily injury or death when used to:
(1) Effectuate an arrest.
(2) Overcome resistance or threatened resistance to
effectuate an arrest.
(3) Protect the arresting officer or any other person
from injury or death.
"Law enforcement agency." A law enforcement agency in this
Commonwealth that is the employer of a law enforcement officer.
"Law enforcement officer." As the term "peace officer" is
defined under 18 Pa.C.S. § 501 (relating to definitions).
"Serious bodily injury." Bodily injury that creates a
substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent
disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function
of a bodily member or organ.
"Weapon." As follows:
(1) Anything readily capable of lethal use and possessed
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under circumstances not manifestly appropriate for lawful
uses which it may have.
(2) The term includes a firearm which is not loaded or
lacks a clip or other component to render it immediately
operable, and components which can readily be assembled into
a weapon.
§ 2143. Written policies required.
(a) Development and implementation.--Each law enforcement
agency shall develop and implement a written use-of-force policy
governing the procedures under which a law enforcement officer
should initiate, continue and terminate the use of force. The
policy:
(1) May be the model use-of-force policy endorsed by a
national or State organization or association that is
consistent with the requirements of this subchapter.
(2) Must reflect consideration of the guidelines under
this section.
(b) Intent of guidelines.--The guidelines under this
section:
(1) Are solely intended to direct law enforcement
agencies in developing use of force policies and outline the
content of these policies.
(2) Are not intended to mandate the actions of
individual law enforcement officers.
(c) Policy guidelines.--Each law enforcement agency use-of-
force policy must be consistent with current training and
certification standards and include the following procedural
elements:
(1) Decision-making criteria or principles for
initiation of force. These criteria or principles may
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include:
(i) The severity of the crime at issue.
(ii) If the suspect poses an immediate threat to the
safety of the law enforcement officer or others.
(iii) The potential for harm or immediate or
potential danger to others if the fleeing individual or
individuals escape.
(iv) If the suspect is actively resisting arrest or
attempting to evade arrest by flight.
(v) Safety factors that pose a risk to law
enforcement officers and other persons.
(vi) If the suspect is in possession of a weapon.
(vii) Other relevant information that the law
enforcement officer reasonably believes to be true at the
time.
(2) Responsibilities of law enforcement officers.
(3) Responsibilities of the field supervisor.
(4) Decision-making criteria or principles for
termination of force. The criteria or principles may include
safety factors that pose a risk to law enforcement officers
and other persons.
(5) Recordkeeping protocols for use-of-for