City of Philadelphia - File #: 230510

• File #: 230510
• Version: 1
• Type: Bill
• Status: ENACTED
• File created: 6/15/2023
• In control: Committee on Public Safety
• Final action: 11/30/2023
• Title: Amending Chapter 10-600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Public Spaces - Prohibited Conduct," by prohibiting certain facial coverings from being worn in certain spaces; under certain terms and conditions.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Phillips, Councilmember Harrity, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Lozada, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember Driscoll, Councilmember Vaughn, Councilmember Gilmore Richardson
• Indexes: INDIVIDUAL CONDUCT
• Code sections: 10-600 - Public Places-Prohibited Conduct

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
12/14/2023	1	MAYOR	NO ACTION TAKEN
11/30/2023	1	CITY COUNCIL	READ AND PASSED	Pass	13:2
11/16/2023	1	CITY COUNCIL	SUSPEND THE RULES OF THE COUNCIL
11/16/2023	1	CITY COUNCIL	READ AND ORDERED PLACED ON NEXT WEEK'S SECOND READING CALENDAR
11/16/2023	1	CITY COUNCIL	ORDERED PLACED ON THIS DAY`S FIRST READING CALENDAR
11/14/2023	0	Committee on Public Safety	HEARING NOTICES SENT
11/14/2023	1	Committee on Public Safety	REPORTED FAVORABLY, RULE SUSPENSION REQUESTED
11/14/2023	0	Committee on Public Safety	HEARING HELD
11/14/2023	0	Committee on Public Safety	AMENDED
10/24/2023	0	Committee on Public Safety	HEARING NOTICES SENT
10/24/2023	0	Committee on Public Safety	Cancellation of Scheduled Public Hearing
6/15/2023	0	CITY COUNCIL

Title
Amending Chapter 10-600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Public Spaces - Prohibited Conduct," by prohibiting certain facial coverings from being worn in certain spaces; under certain terms and conditions.

Body
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:

SECTION 1. The Council of the City of Philadelphia hereby makes the following legislative
findings:

1. In 2020, casually wearing ski masks became prevalent in the City of Philadelphia. This trend corresponded with an uptick of individuals wanted by the Police Department who wore ski masks in the commission of a crime.

2. In June 2021, two shooters wearing ski masks shot two people, killing one of them in North Philadelphia. In September 2022, five masked individuals, some or all of whom wore ski masks, shot into a crowd of people attending a junior varsity football scrimmage, killing a 14-year-old and injuring four others. In May 2023, a shooter wearing a ski mask shot and killed a 15-year-old high school student on a public bus. In July 2023, an attacker dressed in a ski mask and body armor killed five people and injured two children in Kingsessing. In most cases, perpetrators' use of a ski mask to conceal their identity impeded law enforcement's ability to identify and apprehend the individual.

3. The use of ski masks by criminals to conceal their identities is both a public safety issue and a quality-of-life issue. Our quality of life suffers when residents feel at greater risk of experiencing crime while going about their daily lives in this City. And public safety is lessened when criminals can wear ski masks with anonymity, making it difficult for police officers to identify them.


SECTION 2. Chapter 10-600 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

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CHAPTER 10-600. PUBLIC SPACES - PROHIBITED CONDUCT.

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? 10-613. Concealed Identities.

* * *

(1) No person shall, with the specific intent to intimidate or threaten another person, or wit...