Bill 200538
Amending Title 10 of The Philadelphia Code to create a new Chapter 10-2500, entitled “Less Lethal Devices,” to regulate the use of less lethal devices in specific situations; all under certain terms and conditions.
Introduced by
How members voted
Vote on Oct 29, 2020 · CITY COUNCIL
Aye (17)
Councilmember DombCouncilmember GreenCouncilmember GymCouncilmember OhCouncilmember SquillaCouncilmember JohnsonCouncilmember JonesCouncil President ClarkeCouncilmember HenonCouncilmember Quiñones SánchezCouncilmember BassCouncilmember ParkerCouncilmember O'NeillCouncilmember BrooksCouncilmember GauthierCouncilmember Gilmore RichardsonCouncilmember Thomas
From the floor
Passages in the official transcripts that cite this file number. Every quote links to its exact place in the record.
“I have an objection to Bill No. 200538. Stated Meeting October 29, 2020 2ND READING”
Councilman Oh · Stated Meeting, October 29, 2020 · Oct 29, 2020 · official transcript, this passage
“I am President of the Korean American Chamber of Commerce for Philadelphia. And just to give you a background, the prior riots, the Korean community was especially hit hard. They had about $19 million in damages, and at least 75 businesses were affected. I oppose Council Bill No. 200538, which would strip law enforcement of non-lethal tools like tear gas during public demonstrations. The Korean Chamber believes that…”
Mr. Choe · Stated Meeting, October 29, 2020 · Oct 29, 2020 · official transcript, this passage
“Sorry. For a second I had to turn the music off. Yes, guys. Hello. I'm calling on behalf of the Bill 200538 of the use of non-lethal -”
Mr. Zhukov · Stated Meeting, October 29, 2020 · Oct 29, 2020 · official transcript, this passage
“Yes. I'm calling on the statement regarding the Bill No. 200538 of the use of non-lethal weapons. So pretty much as of today, we have a situation with Walter Wallace, and the reason -- one of the reasons he was shot, Stated Meeting October 29, 2020 because police was under-equipped with the lack of the tasers that's non-lethal as well, and as of right now, police have the only option left is a lethal weapon. So any s…”
Mr. Zhukov · Stated Meeting, October 29, 2020 · Oct 29, 2020 · official transcript, this passage
“Good morning. I'm Sharon Hartz, the President of the Korean American Association of Greater Philadelphia. It's my honor to have opportunity to speak and comment this morning. My testimony is towards Bill No. 200538. This past summer, 75 Korean American-owned businesses were looted, vandalized, and burned down. Since then, some of them have completely shut down, and many of them are still trying to recover from the da…”
Ms. Hartz · Stated Meeting, October 29, 2020 · Oct 29, 2020 · official transcript, this passage
“The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. We will now move forward on Bill No. 200538. Am I correct, Mr. Decker?”
Council President Clarke · Stated Meeting, October 29, 2020 · Oct 29, 2020 · official transcript, this passage
Status timeline
- Oct 8, 2020Introduced and Referred · CITY COUNCIL
- Oct 20, 2020HEARING NOTICES SENT · Committee on Public Safety
- Oct 20, 2020HEARING HELD · Committee on Public Safety
- Oct 20, 2020REPORTED FAVORABLY, RULE SUSPENSION REQUESTED · Committee on Public Safety
- Oct 22, 2020SUSPEND THE RULES OF THE COUNCIL · CITY COUNCIL
- Oct 22, 2020ORDERED PLACED ON THIS DAY`S FIRST READING CALENDAR · CITY COUNCIL
- Oct 22, 2020READ AND ORDERED PLACED ON NEXT WEEK'S SECOND READING CALENDAR · CITY COUNCIL
- Oct 29, 2020READ AND PASSED · CITY COUNCIL
- Nov 10, 2020SIGNED · MAYOR
Official documents
Documents open on the City of Philadelphia’s legislative site.
Full text
Read the full text as published
..Title Amending Title 10 of The Philadelphia Code to create a new Chapter 10-2500, entitled "Less Lethal Devices," to regulate the use of less lethal devices in specific situations; all under certain terms and conditions. ..Body THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS: SECTION 1. Title 10 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows: TITLE 10. REGULATION OF INDIVIDUAL CONDUCT AND ACTIVITY * * * CHAPTER 10-2500. LESS LETHAL DEVICES � 10-2501. Definitions. (1) Less Lethal. Any device designed to reduce the risk of causing fatal injury to the individual upon whom it is used, when compared to the use of firearms or other deadly force. (2) Chemical Weapons. Any type of device designed as Less Lethal, to be launched or thrown as a projectile, in order to cause injury or trauma to the intended target through the action of chemicals as an eye, throat, respiratory, and/or skin irritant, as a means of crowd control. The term specifically includes, but is not limited to, any item commonly referred to as or having similar effects to "tear gas." (3) Kinetic Energy Munitions. Any type of device designed as Less Lethal, to be launched from any device as a projectile, in order to cause injury or trauma to the intended target as a means of crowd control or dispersal. The term specifically includes, but is not limited to, any item commonly referred to as rubber bullets. (4) First Amendment Activities. Any demonstrations, picketing, speechmaking, marching, holding vigils or religious services, and all other like forms of conduct that involve the communication or expression of views or grievances, engaged in by one or more persons. (5) Department. The Philadelphia Police Department. � 10-2502. Less Lethal Device Policy. (1) The Department shall establish a written policy, or update any relevant existing policy, to prohibit the use of Chemical Weapons and Kinetic Energy Munitions by any member of the Department on any individual engaging in First Amendment Activities. * * * SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall be effective immediately. ..End