Pennsylvania
SB 887: New penalties for protests near "critical infrastructure"
Would heighten potential penalties for protests near oil and gas pipelines and other critical infrastructure by creating a new offense of "critical infrastructure facility trespass." According to the bill, entering or merely attempting to enter property containing a critical infrastructure facility, without permission of the property owner, would be a third degree felony punishable by up to one year in prison; remaining at the facility after being ordered to leave would be a second degree felony, likewise punishable by up to one year in prison. Entering a critical infrastructure facility with the intent to "damage, destroy, vandalize, deface, tamper with equipment or impede or inhibit operations of the facility," would be a second degree felony punishable by imprisonment for up to one year. It would also be a second degree felony, subject to one year's imprisonment, to "conspire[] with another person to commit" any of the above offences. An individual who commits any of the offenses a second time would face penalties of the next felony degree. The law newly defines "critical infrastructure facility" under Pennsylvania law to include a broad range of oil, gas, electric, water, telecommunications, and railroad facilities, such as gas and oil pipelines "buried or above ground." The definition of "critical infrastructure facility" applies to facilities "constructed or under construction," and includes "equipment and machinery, regardless of whether stored on location or at a storage yard, to the extent that it is used to construct a critical infrastructure facility." (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 7 Oct 2019.
Issue(s): Conspiracy, Infrastructure, Trespass
Pennsylvania
SB 323: Charging protesters for the costs of responding to a protest
Would make individual protesters potentially liable for "public safety response costs" incurred by the state or a political subdivision during a protest or demonstration. Like SB 176, introduced in the 2017-2018 session, the bill allows local authorities to seek restitution from protesters convicted of a misdemeanor or felony in the course of a protest or demonstration, in order to pay for the costs of responding to the event. Such costs could include outlays for police, fire department, and medical services, as well as "related legal, administrative, and court expenses." (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 22 Feb 2019.
Issue(s): Security Costs
Pennsylvania
SB 754: Charging protesters for the costs of responding to a protest
Would make individual protesters potentially liable for "public safety response costs" incurred by the state or "political subdivision" during a protest or rally. The bill allows local authorities to seek restitution from protesters convicted of a misdemeanor or felony in the course of a protest or demonstration, in order to pay for the costs of responding to the event. Such costs could include overtime for police officers and emergency medical services, as well as "related legal, administrative, and court expenses." (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 16 Aug 2017.
Issue(s): Security Costs
Pennsylvania
SB 652: Heightened penalties for protests near critical infrastructure
Would heighten potential penalties for protests around critical infrastructure such as gas and oil pipelines by providing for the crime of "criminal trespass" onto a critical infrastructure facility. Under the bill, it is a felony to enter a critical infrastructure facility "with the intent to willfully damage, destroy, vandalize, deface, tamper with equipment or impede or inhibit the operations of the facility." The bill broadly defines "critical infrastructure facility" to include natural gas facilities and pipelines, "whether constructed or under construction," as well as "equipment and machinery, regardless of location, to the extent that it is used to construct, maintain, or operate a critical infrastructure facility." Other facilities considered critical infrastructure include cell phone towers, telephone poles, and railroad tracks that are fenced off or posted as no-entry areas. Under the bill, entering such an area with the intent to cause damage or disruption is a second-degree felony. An individual who "conspires" to do so commits a first-degree felony. The bill was substantially amended on 25 September 2018, including to significantly expand the definition of "critical infrastructure facility." (See full text of bill here)
Status: defeated / expired
Introduced 25 Apr 2017; Approved by Senate 23 May 2018
Issue(s): Infrastructure, Trespass
