PRINTER'S NO. 193
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 20
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, SCHWANK, FONTANA, COSTA AND KEARNEY,
JANUARY 31, 2023
REFERRED TO LAW AND JUSTICE, JANUARY 31, 2023
A RESOLUTION
1 Establishing a task force on law enforcement policies and
2 procedures used in response to large-scale demonstrations,
3 protests and other acts of civil disobedience.
4 WHEREAS, The United States is currently engaged in a national
5 debate on law enforcement policies and practices; and
6 WHEREAS, High-profile incidents of use of force by law
7 enforcement have led to numerous demonstrations and protests in
8 recent months; and
9 WHEREAS, Several of these demonstrations and protests have
10 turned violent; and
11 WHEREAS, These violent demonstrations and protests have
12 resulted in millions of dollars in property damage, numerous
13 arrests, physical injuries and, in some cases, death; and
14 WHEREAS, Law enforcement responses to large-scale but
15 otherwise peaceful acts of civil disobedience have the potential
16 to escalate already charged atmospheres; and
17 WHEREAS, The people of this Commonwealth have a
18 constitutional right to assemble peacefully; and
 1 WHEREAS, Law enforcement has a duty and responsibility to
2 protect the general public from acts of violence, including
3 riots and militant protests; and
4 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has an obligation to assist law
5 enforcement in developing best practices to ensure that large-
6 scale demonstrations do not become violent; therefore be it
7 RESOLVED, That the Senate establish a task force on law
8 enforcement policies and procedures for responding to large-
9 scale demonstrations; and be it further
10 RESOLVED, That the task force be comprised of the following
11 members:
12 (1) Two members of the Senate, one appointed by the
13 President pro tempore of the Senate and one appointed by the
14 Minority Leader of the Senate.
15 (2) The Chairman of the Pennsylvania Emergency
16 Management Council, or a designee.
17 (3) The Commissioner of Pennsylvania State Police, or a
18 designee.
19 (4) The Attorney General of the Commonwealth, or a
20 designee.
21 (5) The Adjutant General of the Commonwealth, or a
22 designee.
23 (6) The Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Capitol
24 Police Department, or a designee.
25 (7) The mayor of a city of the first class, or a
26 designee.
27 (8) The mayor of a city of the second class, or a
28 designee.
29 (9) The Police Commissioner of a city of the first
30 class, or a designee.
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 1 (10) The Chief of Police of a city of the second class,
2 or a designee;
3 and be it further
4 RESOLVED, That the task force be comprised of 10 members
5 appointed by the Governor as follows:
6 (1) One member representing the Pennsylvania League of
7 Cities.
8 (2) One member representing The County Commissioners
9 Association of Pennsylvania.
10 (3) Two incumbent mayors of a city of the third class.
11 (4) One incumbent chief of police of the police
12 department of a city of the third class.
13 (5) One chief of police of a university or campus police
14 department.
15 (6) One current or former Federal law enforcement
16 officer with experience in handling protests and other forms
17 of civil disobedience.
18 (7) One current or former member of the United States
19 Department of Justice Civil Rights Division with experience
20 in investigating, litigating or prosecuting claims of civil
21 rights violations.
22 (8) Two attorneys or legal educators specializing in the
23 field of civil rights or constitutional law;
24 and be it further
25 RESOLVED, That the task force direct the Joint State
26 Government Commission to establish an advisory committee
27 consisting of the following members:
28 (1) Two individuals representing the Pennsylvania
29 Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of
30 Colored People to be selected by the Joint State Government
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 1 Commission, upon the recommendation of the governing body of
2 the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association for the
3 Advancement of Colored People.
4 (2) Two individuals representing the Pennsylvania
5 Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union to be selected
6 by the Joint State Government Commission, upon the
7 recommendation of the governing body of the Pennsylvania
8 Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
9 (3) Two individuals representing Pennsylvania Chapters
10 of the National Lawyers Guild to be selected by the Joint
11 State Government Commission, upon the recommendation of the
12 governing body of the National Lawyers Guild.
13 (4) One individual representing the Pennsylvania
14 District Attorneys Association to be selected by the Joint
15 State Government Commission, upon the recommendation of the
16 governing body of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys
17 Association.
18 (5) One individual representing the Pennsylvania State
19 Troopers Association to be selected by the Joint State
20 Government Commission, upon the recommendation of the
21 governing body of the Pennsylvania State Troopers
22 Association.
23 (6) One individual representing the Pennsylvania Chiefs
24 of Police Association to be selected by the Joint State
25 Government Commission, upon the recommendation of the
26 governing body of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police
27 Association.
28 (7) One individual representing the Pennsylvania
29 Sheriffs' Association to be selected by the Joint State
30 Government Commission, upon the recommendation of the
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 1 governing body of the Pennsylvania Sheriffs' Association;
2 and be it further
3 RESOLVED, That the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Emergency
4 Management Council serve as chairperson of the advisory
5 committee; and be it further
6 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission, working
7 with the task force and the advisory committee, conduct a
8 thorough and comprehensive study of existing State and local law
9 enforcement policies and procedures for responding to acts of
10 civil disobedience, including training and response programs,
11 crowd control tactics, the use of less-than-lethal force, the
12 issues set forth in this resolution and other related issues as
13 determined by the Joint State Government Commission; and be it
14 further
15 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission, working
16 with the task force and the advisory committee, review the
17 following to identify the best law enforcement practices for
18 responding to acts of civil disobedience and the causes of
19 escalation from peaceful demonstration to violent protest and
20 develop recommendations best suited for law enforcement agencies
21 in this Commonwealth:
22 (1) Proposals and policies of other states.
23 (2) Policies currently in place at law enforcement
24 agencies in this Commonwealth and other states.
25 (3) Other resources on the issues of civil disobedience
26 and law enforcement practices;
27 and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission
29 establish a process by which interested members of the public
30 can make suggestions and offer input to the task force; and be
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1 it further
2 RESOLVED, That the task force recommend changes to State law,
3 practices, policies and procedures relating to law enforcement
4 responses to acts of civil disobedience that are necessary to
5 ensure the rights and safety of demonstrators, law enforcement
6 and the general public; and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
8 report of the task force's findings and recommendations to the
9 Senate within 12 months of the adoption of this resolution.
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