Posted: | May 5, 2017 02:29 PM |
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From: | Senator Scott Martin |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Reimbursement for Demonstration Response Costs |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that would shield taxpayers against the additional costs resulting from protests. Within the last year, protestors gathered on federal land in North Dakota to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline, but what they left behind was nearly $40 million in costs to state and local taxpayers. The seven-month long protest:
In addition to remedies currently allowed by law, this legislation would allow for the recovery of costs by holding a person or persons civilly liable for response costs related to a demonstration if the person is convicted for rioting or is a public nuisance under 18 Pa.C.S. § 5501 or §6504, or if the person is involved in hosting the demonstration. Individuals have a right to protest, and we as leaders in our community have a responsibility to work to ensure that these protests are held peacefully and in a manner that will not burden the local population. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |