Oct. 27, 2022
HARRISBURG – To protect police officers from being assaulted by spit and other bodily fluids, the House approved legislation by Rep. Lou Schmitt (R-Blair) and sent it to the governor for his signature.
“There are countless news stories and firsthand accounts I received from officers who have been intentionally spit on or had other bodily fluid expelled on them by criminals,” Schmitt said. “These assaults with bodily fluids are disgusting in nature and serve to cause distress to law enforcement officers who have to live in fear, not knowing if they have just been infected with a disease.”
Schmitt’s
House Bill 103 would make it a criminal offense to assault a police officer with bodily fluids, such as spit. The bill outlines an assault with bodily fluids must be deliberate, rather than a case of accidental spitting that could occur during a heated exchange.
Typically, when officers are assaulted with spit or bodily fluids, they must undergo medical testing to see if they contracted a virus, such as HIV. Such assaults take police officers off the street, preventing them from fully doing their jobs.
Should the governor sign the bill, it will become law in 60 days.
For more information on Schmitt and his legislative priorities, please visit
RepLouSchmitt.com or
Facebook.com/RepSchmitt.
Representative Lou Schmitt
79th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
RepLouSchmitt.com / Facebook.com/RepSchmitt