HARRISBURG – The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a meeting tomorrow to consider legislation related to victim’ rights, protecting vulnerable populations, digital assets, and making government more efficient, according to committee chair Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20.
WHEN:
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
10:00 AM
WHERE:
Room 8 EB, Capitol
WHAT:
VICTIMS’ RIGHTS
HB 276 – Rep. Sheryl Delozier, R-88
Marsy’s Law adds a victims’ bill of rights to the Pennsylvania Constitution and places victims’ rights on equal footing with those of the accused. As a proposed constitutional amendment, the legislation must pass both chambers in identical form, in consecutive legislative sessions, before being put on the ballot as a referendum. It passed the House and Senate unanimously last session.
HB 502 – Rep. Johnathan Hershey, R-82
Modeled after the federal Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights, this would prohibit crime victims from being excluded from certain proceedings without a judicial determination that the victim’s testimony would be materially altered by attendance.
HB 504 – Rep. Natalie Mihalek, R-40
Expands the rape shield law to cover instances where the victim may be asked about prior victimizations or allegations of victimizations that he or she has made for the purpose of attacking his or her character.
PROTECTING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
SB 60 – Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-28
This legislation shifts the focus of state law from punishing the victims of trafficking to punishing those who traffic individuals and those who would buy sex from them. Recognizing the connection between prostitution and human trafficking, this legislation also increases the fine for repeat offenders of those patronizing prostitutes.
SB 81– Sen. John Sabatina, D-5
Raises the age to marry to 18 without exceptions.
HB 315 – Rep. Thomas Murt, R-152
Amends the state crime code by creating the offense of female genital mutilation and grading it as a felony of the first degree.
MAKING GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT
SB 714 – Sen. Pat Browne, R-16
Would consolidate the Department of Corrections and the Board of Probation and Parole.
SB 715 – Sen. Pat Browne, R-16
Amends the Crime Victims Act my making technical changes and by housing the Office of Victim Advocate within the Department of Corrections if the Department of Corrections and the Board of Probation and Parole were to merge.
HB 235 — Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-116
Reforms and improves Pennsylvania’s adoption laws by explicitly stating that correctional staff are permitted to witness the consent of the incarcerated parent in signing adoption forms.
DIGITAL ASSETS
SB 320 – Sen. Tom Killion, R-9
Gives people the power to plan for the management and disposition of their digital assets (photos, documents, e-books, music files, and video files) in the same way they can make plans for their tangible property. They can do this by providing instructions in a will, trust, or power of attorney.
Contact:
Andrew M. Seder
aseder@pasen.gov
(570) 226-5960