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Pennsylvania State Senate
04/18/2024 04:27 PM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20230&cosponId=40490
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: April 14, 2023 09:47 AM
From: Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr.
To: All Senate members
Subject: Mass Transit Special Prosecutor Program
 
In the near future, I plan on introducing legislation which establishes the Mass Transit Special Prosecutor Program.
 
This legislation will require a panel of three judges to appoint a special prosecutor to oversee crimes occurring on SEPTA within the City of Philadelphia. This prosecutor will address the inaction of the current DA and ensure that those that break the law will answer for their crime. As I’ve seen and heard firsthand, law enforcement is stymied by a failure to follow through after arrests are made. This dereliction of duty has cast a negative light on the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth and has negatively impacted safety and ridership. Multiple murders, rapes, and assaults are contributing to a culture of lawlessness. It is time we take action to help those affected by this tragedy.
 
Last session, the Senate took action by passing House Bill 140 to address the crimes occurring on SEPTA. While debate ensued on House Bill 140 as amended, many lawmakers in both chambers who ended up voting against the legislation stated that the conversation around the safety on SEPTA and the special prosecutor provision needed to take place separate from the underlying provisions of House Bill 140. This legislation will establish a Mass Transit Special Prosecutor Program for crimes occurring on SEPTA within Philadelphia. Governor Wolf vetoed House Bill 140 as amended on November 17, 2022.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation, as the working families and visitors of Philadelphia are in dire need of effective solutions.


Introduced as SB140