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municipalauthorities.org | 57 1000 North Front Street, Suite 401, Wormleysburg, PA 17043 717-737-7655 . 717-737-8431(f) . info@municipalauthorities.org m u n i c i p a l a u t h o r i t i e s . o r g TO: Chairman Briggs, Chairman Kauffman, and members of the House Judiciary Committee FROM: Jennie Shade, Senior Director of Government Relations DATE: May 13, 2025 SUBJECT: Support of HB 956 P.N. 1030 with Amendment A00278 I am writing on behalf of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association (PMAA) which represents more than 700 municipal authorities across the Commonwealth. Our members provide critical public services – such as drinking water, sewage treatment, waste management, redevelopment, recreational, and other community-based projects – to over six million Pennsylvanians. PMAA supports HB 956 P.N. 1030 with Amendment A00278, which amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) to extend aggravated assault protections to include employees of municipal authorities as well as other local government entities. The bill accomplishes this by recognizing assaults against them as an aggravated assault, a felony, rather than a simple assault, which is typically a misdemeanor. Our members play an essential role in keeping our communities functioning. Their responsibilities range from operating and maintaining water and sewer systems, to conducting inspections, complying with environmental regulations, and managing redevelopment and infrastructure projects. In carrying out these duties, they frequently interact with the public in high-stress or emotionally charged situations, such as service terminations or emergency responses. Unfortunately, these daily interactions, while routine, can sometimes escalate into confrontational or even violent encounters. HB 956 addresses this risk head on. By including municipal authority employees in the category of public servants afforded additional legal protection, this piece of legislation affirms that violence against individuals serving the public is unacceptable. The bill not only serves as a deterrent to potential offenders, but also offers a measure of safety, legal recourse, and moral support to public employees who too often face real dangers in the course of their work. On behalf of our members, we respectfully ask that you support HB 956 P.N. 1030 with Amendment A00278. Thank you for your consideration. We also extend our appreciation to Representative Malcolm Kenyatta for his leadership on this important issue.