Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB46

Introduced
1/22/25  

Caption

Providing for adoption by the Attorney General of a Statewide model policy related to the prevention of excessive force by law enforcement officers and school security personnel.

Impact

The proposed legislation will have significant implications on state laws and local policies governing law enforcement practices. Specifically, it will establish minimum standards for the use of force, including a complete ban on chokeholds and specific protocols around the discharge of deadly force. Each law enforcement agency and school entity will be required to comply with the enacted policy, thereby standardizing enforcement protocols across Pennsylvania. Furthermore, failure to adopt this model policy could result in penalties such as the revocation of state funds, introducing a significant economic incentive for compliance.

Summary

Senate Bill 46, known as the Eight Can't Wait Policy to Prevent Excessive Force Act, mandates the Attorney General of Pennsylvania to adopt a statewide model policy aimed at preventing excessive force by law enforcement officers and school security personnel. This bill outlines a series of requirements that law enforcement agencies must follow, including the adoption of de-escalation tactics prior to the use of force, thus ensuring a more humane approach in policing and school security operations. Overall, the initiative is grounded in the belief that every person has the right to be free from excessive force, aiming to uphold human dignity and rights throughout the state.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding SB46 appears largely positive among those advocating for police reform and community safety. Proponents argue that the bill is crucial for reducing incidents of police misconduct and ensuring community trust in law enforcement. However, there may be concerns among some law enforcement associations regarding the feasibility of these mandated practices and the balance between officer safety and community rights. Lawmakers have expressed a commitment to ensuring that this legislation reflects a consensus on effective policing standards while safeguarding civil rights.

Contention

Notably, the bill does face contention related to its applicability and integration into existing policies. Some critics argue that while the intentions behind SB46 are commendable, the actual implementation could vary significantly among different jurisdictions, possibly leading to inconsistencies in enforcement. Moreover, the requirement for periodic review and updates of the policy may pose challenges in maintaining uniform training standards for law enforcement personnel and could lead to ongoing debates about best practices in policing.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB66

Providing for the adoption of a Statewide model policy related to the prevention of excessive force by law enforcement officers and school security personnel.

PA SB332

In employees, providing for use of force and deadly force policy for law enforcement agencies; and making an editorial change.

PA HB462

Providing for actions by law enforcement; and, in employees, providing for use of force recordkeeping and reporting for law enforcement agencies.

PA HB647

Establishing the Safe Schools Partnership; conferring powers and imposing duties on the Attorney General and the Secretary of Education; providing for a bullying identification, prevention and intervention model plan; and imposing duties on schools and school districts.

PA HB1908

In school safety and security, further providing for school safety and security coordinator; and, in school security, further providing for duties of commission and providing for school security personnel.

PA HB234

In school security, providing for training requirements for school police officers and school security guards.

PA HB27

In preliminary provisions, further providing for Basic Education Funding Commission and for special provisions applicable to limited school years, establishing the Child Reunification Program in the Department of Education and providing for minimum number of days or hours, for public job posting database, for instructional vacancy data and for data transparency; in duties and powers of boards of school directors, further providing for additional schools and departments; in school finances, providing for school district budget timeline for 2024 and for procedure for securing approval of electors; in grounds and buildings, further providing for limitation on new applications for Department of Education approval of public school building projects; in school directors' associations and county boards of school directors, further providing for powers and duties; in intermediate units, further providing for visual services and for school safety and security enhancements; in professional employees, repealing provisions relating to religious garb, insignia, etc., prohibited and penalty; in certification of teachers, further providing for substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers, for locally issued temporary certification for substitute teachers and for permit for classroom monitors; providing for Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program; in pupils and attendance, further providing for compulsory education of physical defectives, for dependent children, for cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children in approved institutions, for payment of cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children, for transfer of funds for transferal programs and for children under six with defective hearing and parent or guardian advised of schools, etc.; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for Office for Safe Schools, repealing provisions relating to regulations and to reporting, further providing for policy relating to bullying and for maintenance of records, repealing provisions relating to safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class, to standing, to enforcement and to construction of article and other laws; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions and for School Safety and Security Committee, providing for duties of committee, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, providing for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program, for standardized protocols, for county safe schools' collaborative and for school mental health grants for 2023-2024 school year, further providing for school safety and security coordinator training and providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding, for safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class and for enforcement; in school security, further providing for definitions, for school police officers, for annual report and for school security guards; in school health services, further providing for dental examinations and dental hygiene services and providing for eating disorder awareness and education; in drug and alcohol recovery high school program, providing for enrollment of students; in terms and courses of study, providing for calculation of average daily membership for a dual credit course and further providing for Economic Education and Personal Financial Literacy Programs; in early learning programs, providing for quarterly meetings; in character education program, further providing for character education program; providing for the Dual Credit Innovation and Equity Grant Program; in high schools, further providing for attendance in other districts; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for qualification and application by organizations, for limitations and for low-achieving schools; in school districts of the first class, further providing for qualifications of principals and teachers; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2023-2024; in credit card marketing, further providing for regulation of on-campus credit card marketing; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for definitions and for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums, providing for Level-Up Supplement for 2022-2023 school year, further providing for payments on account of courses for exceptional children, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status, for payments, for payments on account of pupil transportation, for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant and for payment of required contribution for public school employees' Social Security; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; providing for School Environmental Repairs Program; abrogating a regulation; and making an editorial change.

PA HB301

In preliminary provisions, further providing for special provisions applicable to limited school years; in duties and powers of board of school directors, further providing for additional schools and departments; in grounds and buildings, further providing for limitation on new applications for Department of Education approval of public school building projects; in school directors' associations and county boards of school directors, further providing for powers and duties; in intermediate units, further providing for visual services and for school safety and security enhancements; in certification of teachers, further providing for substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers and for locally issued temporary certification for substitute teachers, repealing provisions relating to permit for classroom monitors and providing for permit for classroom monitors; providing for the Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program; in pupils and attendance, further providing for compulsory education of physical defectives, for school lunch and breakfast reimbursement, for dependent children, for actual cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children in the four chartered schools for education of the deaf and the blind, for payment of cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children, for transfer of funds for transferal programs and for children under six with defective hearing and parent or guardian advised of schools, etc.; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for Office for Safe Schools, repealing provisions relating to regulations and to reporting, further providing for policy relating to bullying and for maintenance of records and repealing provisions relating to Safe Schools Advocate in School Districts of the First Class, to standing, to enforcement and to construction of article and other laws; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions and for school safety and security committee, providing for duties of committee, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, providing for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program, for standardized protocols, for county safe schools' collaborative and for school mental health grants for 2023-2024 school year, further providing for school safety and security coordinator training and providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding, for safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class and for enforcement; in school security, further providing for definitions, for school police officers, for annual report and for school security guards; in character education program, further providing for character education program; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions, for qualification and application by organizations and for limitations; in school districts of the first class, further providing for qualifications of principals and teachers; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2023-2024; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for definitions and for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums, for payments on account of courses for exceptional children, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status, for payments, for payments on account of pupil transportation, for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant and for payment of required contribution for public school employees' Social Security; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; providing for School Environmental Repairs Program; and making an editorial change.

PA HB1548

Providing for extent of cooperation between certain law enforcement agencies and Federal immigration authorities; prohibiting certain acts by law enforcement agencies and postsecondary institutions; and providing for policies limiting assistance with immigration enforcement.

PA SB632

In school security, providing for school safety form.

Similar Bills

CA AB1747

California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System: immigration.

PA SB66

Providing for the adoption of a Statewide model policy related to the prevention of excessive force by law enforcement officers and school security personnel.

HI HB956

Relating To Statewide Interoperable Public Safety Communications.

HI SB1110

Relating To Statewide Interoperable Public Safety Communications.

HI SB1335

Relating To Statewide Interoperable Public Safety Communications.

HI SB1335

Relating To Statewide Interoperable Public Safety Communications.

HI HB1037

Relating To Statewide Interoperable Public Safety Communications.

NJ S1751

Requires adoption of anti-nepotism policies by school districts and charter schools.