Kenyatta calls for heightened protections for municipal workers
Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta March 19, 2025 | 11:18 AM
HARRISBURG, March 19 – Yesterday, state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta joined members of AFSCME District Council 33 out of Philadelphia at a Capitol news conference to highlight bipartisan legislation (H.B. 956) that would advance the protections of public servants to include municipal workers.
The legislation, which Kenyatta introduced with Rep. Jamie Flick R-Lycoming, would extend protections against aggravated assault for public servants if they are victims of physical violence to include the state’s municipal workers. Kenyatta noted that 39 other public service classifications, including state lawmakers, have stronger protections under the law. He said that it was past time for municipal workers to be added to the list.
“Every person deserves to be safe on the job, particularly the public workers that do the critical work of keeping the water running in our homes, making sure our electricity is on, keeping our kids safe when they walk to school and more,” Kenyatta said. “There is a constant threat that is hanging over the heads of these public workers as they do their jobs. It’s time to give them the protections they need and deserve.”
AFSCME District Council 33 President Greg Boulware spoke at the news conference and said his members would be reaching out to legislators on the importance of the bill. They later branched out to visit legislators’ offices in the Capitol Complex.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Tim Briggs, who chairs the committee that will consider the bill, pledged his support for the legislation. Philadelphia’s District Attorney Larry Krasner has also said he supports the bill.
HB 956 was introduced yesterday.