PRINTER'S NO. 531
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
540
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY FLYNN, MURT, READSHAW, BARRAR, KIRKLAND, KINSEY,
ZIMMERMAN, NEILSON, HILL-EVANS, B. MILLER, DeLUCA, KORTZ AND
SCHWEYER, FEBRUARY 19, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019
AN ACT
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and
related offenses, providing for the offense of inciting
violence against law enforcement officer.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 5503.1. Inciting violence against law enforcement officer.
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits a felony of the third
degree if the person willfully advocates violence against one or
more law enforcement officers that is likely to incite or
produce violence.
(b) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Law enforcement officer." A person who by virtue of the
person's office or public employment is vested by law with a
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
duty to maintain public order or to make arrests for offenses,
whether that duty extends to all offenses or is limited to
specific offenses, or any person on active State duty pursuant
to 51 Pa.C.S. § 508 (relating to active duty for emergency). The
term shall also include any member of any park police department
of any county of the third class.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20190HB0540PN0531 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7