SB 46 — An Act 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.

PRINTER'S NO.   19

                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                       SENATE BILL
                       No. 46
                                              Session of
                                                2025

     INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, SCHWANK, STREET, KEARNEY, COMITTA,
        HAYWOOD, COSTA AND KANE, JANUARY 22, 2025

     REFERRED TO LAW AND JUSTICE, JANUARY 22, 2025


                                   AN ACT
 1   Providing for adoption by the Attorney General of a Statewide
 2      model policy related to the prevention of excessive force by
 3      law enforcement officers and school security personnel.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6   Section 1.   Short title.
 7      This act shall be known and may be cited as the Eight Can't
 8   Wait Policy to Prevent Excessive Force Act.
 9   Section 2.   Legislative findings.
10      The General Assembly finds that:
11          (1)   The authority of law enforcement officers and school
12      security personnel to use physical force is a serious
13      responsibility that must be exercised judiciously, with
14      respect for human rights, dignity and the sanctity of every
15      human life.
16          (2)   Every individual has a right to be free from
17      excessive use of force by law enforcement officers and school
18      security personnel acting under color of law.
 1             (3)   Through enactment of a model policy the Commonwealth
 2      can implement common-sense policing standards that can
 3      prevent excessive force being used against our residents and
 4      in our communities.
 5             (4)   The law and policy created must be carefully
 6      constructed and in a manner that thoughtfully reflects the
 7      gravity of the serious consequences that excessive force by
 8      law enforcement officers and school security personnel can
 9      have.
10   Section 3.      Definitions.
11      The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
12   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
13   context clearly indicates otherwise:
14      "Chokehold."      A physical maneuver that restricts an
15   individual's ability to breathe for the purpose of
16   incapacitation.
17      "Commission."      The Municipal Police Officers' Education and
18   Training Commission of the Commonwealth.
19      "Commissioner."      The Commissioner of Pennsylvania State
20   Police.
21      "Community-based organization."       A grassroots organization
22   that monitors the issue of police misconduct and reform measures
23   and has a national presence and membership. The term includes
24   the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People,
25   the American Civil Liberties Union and UnidosUS.
26      "Deadly force."      Force which, under the circumstances in
27   which it is used, is readily capable of causing death or serious
28   bodily injury.
29      "Force."      Efforts used by a law enforcement officer that may
30   result in serious bodily injury or death when used to:

20250SB0046PN0019                     - 2 -
 1          (1)   effectuate an arrest;
 2          (2)   overcome resistance or threatened resistance to
 3      effectuate an arrest; or
 4          (3)   protect the law enforcement officer or any other
 5      individual from injury or death.
 6      "Law enforcement agency."    A law enforcement agency in this
 7   Commonwealth that is the employer of a law enforcement officer.
 8      "Law enforcement officer."    The term shall have the same
 9   meaning as the term "peace officer" under 18 Pa.C.S. § 501
10   (relating to definitions).
11      "Professional law enforcement association."   A law
12   enforcement membership association that works for the needs of
13   state or local law enforcement agencies. The term includes the
14   International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National
15   Sheriffs' Association, the Fraternal Order of Police and the
16   National Association of School Resource Officers.
17      "Reasonable alternatives."    Tactics and methods used by a law
18   enforcement officer or school security personnel to effectuate
19   an arrest or detainment that do not unreasonably increase the
20   risk posed to the law enforcement officer or another individual,
21   including verbal communication, distance, warnings, de-
22   escalation tactics and techniques, tactical repositioning and
23   other tactics and techniques intended to stabilize the situation
24   and reduce the immediacy of the risk so that more time, options
25   and resources can be called upon to resolve the situation
26   without the use of a firearm, taser, explosive device, chemical
27   agent, baton, impact projectile, blunt instrument, hand, fist,
28   foot, canine or vehicle against an individual.
29      "School entity."   The term shall have the same meaning as
30   defined under section 1301-C of the act of March 10, 1949

20250SB0046PN0019                    - 3 -
 1   (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949.
 2      "School police officer."     As defined under section 1301-C of
 3   the Public School Code of 1949.
 4      "School resource officer."     As defined under section 1301-C
 5   of the Public School Code of 1949.
 6      "School security guard."     As defined under section 1301-C of
 7   the Public School Code of 1949.
 8      "School security personnel."     School police officers, school
 9   resource officers and school security guards.
10      "Serious bodily injury."     Bodily injury that creates a
11   substantial risk of death or causes serious, permanent
12   disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function
13   of a bodily member or organ.
14   Section 4.     Statewide model policy.
15      (a)   Development.--Within 120 days of the effective date of
16   this section, the Attorney General, in consultation with the
17   commissioner, the commission, law enforcement agencies,
18   professional law enforcement associations and community-based
19   organizations shall promulgate a Statewide model policy to
20   prevent excessive force by law enforcement officers and school
21   security personnel within this Commonwealth. The Attorney
22   General shall seek public comment at least 20 days prior to
23   finalizing the Statewide model policy.
24      (b)   Notification.--The Attorney General shall:
25            (1)   Publicly and conspicuously post the promulgated
26      Statewide model policy on the Attorney General's publicly
27      accessible Internet website and provide notice of the
28      promulgation to the commissioner, the commission, law
29      enforcement agencies, professional law enforcement
30      associations and community-based organizations with whom the

20250SB0046PN0019                    - 4 -
 1    Attorney General consulted.
 2          (2)   Notify and supply a copy of the policy to the
 3    Governor and the General Assembly.
 4    (c)   Adoption.--
 5          (1)   Sixty days following the promulgation of the
 6    Statewide model policy by the Attorney General, except as
 7    provided under paragraph (2), each law enforcement agency and
 8    school entity shall adopt the Statewide model policy as a
 9    written policy governing the procedures that law enforcement
10    officers and school security personnel shall comply with when
11    engaging with individuals, including bringing an incident
12    under control, making an arrest or protecting the officers,
13    security personnel or others.
14          (2)   A law enforcement agency or school entity may
15    develop and adopt a written policy provided the policy
16    developed contains, at a minimum, the components specified in
17    subsection (f).
18          (3)   The Statewide model policy shall serve as a minimum
19    standard by which other policies are developed and reviewed.
20    The commission shall compile a list of all law enforcement
21    agencies and school entities that are required to adopt a
22    written policy under this section.
23          (4)   A law enforcement agency and school entity shall
24    certify to the commission compliance with this section and
25    provide the commission with a copy of the adopted policy.
26          (5)   The commission shall review each adopted policy to
27    determine if the policy meets the minimum standards required.
28    The commission shall notify the Attorney General of any law
29    enforcement agency or school entity that has failed to comply
30    with this section.

20250SB0046PN0019                  - 5 -
 1      (d)   Failure to comply.--If a law enforcement agency or
 2   school entity fails to adopt a written policy as required under
 3   subsection (c), the law enforcement agency or school entity
 4   risks revocation or suspension of State-appropriated money. The
 5   Attorney General shall notify the Governor and the General
 6   Assembly of a law enforcement agency or school entity that fails
 7   to comply.
 8      (e)   Periodic review and training.--At least every two years,
 9   the Attorney General shall review and update the Statewide model
10   policy as may be required. At least annually, the commissioner
11   and the commission shall review the training programs, for which
12   each is responsible, and ensure that law enforcement officers
13   and school security personnel receive training that is
14   consistent with the Statewide model policy.
15      (f)   Components of policy.--
16            (1)   The Statewide model policy developed shall, at a
17      minimum:
18                  (i)    Require the use of de-escalation tactics and
19            techniques before using force.
20                  (ii)    Develop a force continuum or matrix that
21            defines and limits the types of force and specific
22            weapons that can be used to respond to specific levels of
23            resistance.
24                  (iii)    Ban chokeholds and strangleholds, including
25            carotid restraints.
26                  (iv)    Require a verbal warning be given, when
27            possible, before using deadly force.
28                  (v)    Prohibit shooting at individuals in moving
29            vehicles unless the individual poses a deadly threat by
30            means other than the vehicle.

20250SB0046PN0019                       - 6 -
 1                (vi)    Require the exhaustion of all reasonable
 2          alternatives before resorting to using deadly force.
 3                (vii)    Establish a duty to intervene and stop other
 4          law enforcement officers or school security personnel
 5          from using excessive force, as well as immediately
 6          reporting incidents to a supervisor.
 7                (viii)    Require reporting of uses of force, including
 8          when force was threatened or attempted but not used.
 9          (2)   The policy developed must provide for the consistent
10      definition and use of the following terms:
11                (i)    "De-escalation tactics and techniques."
12                (ii)    "Duty to intervene."
13                (iii)    "Excessive force."
14                (iv)    Any other term that may require clarification
15          to ensure uniform understanding and use.
16   Section 5.   Applicability.
17      This act applies to all law enforcement officers and school
18   security personnel within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth.
19   Section 6.   Exclusive jurisdiction.
20      The Supreme Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear
21   any challenge to or to render a declaratory judgment concerning
22   the constitutionality of this act. The Supreme Court is
23   authorized to take such action as it deems appropriate,
24   consistent with the Supreme Court retaining jurisdiction, to
25   find facts or to expedite a final judgment in connection with
26   such a challenge or request for declaratory relief.
27   Section 7.   Effective date.
28      This act shall take effect immediately.




20250SB0046PN0019                     - 7 -