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Death Penalty
Sponsors Include
Washington (D- Philadelphia)
Kirkland (D-Delaware)
Horsey (D-Philadelphia)>/p>
Bill ID
HR 812
PN 4204
Description
A resolution urging the federal government and states with death penalty statutes to pass bills imposing a moratorium on the death penalty.
Bill Status
Introduced in House 6/29/04
Referred to House Judiciary, 6/29/04
Bill ID
HB 766
PN 893
Description
Imposes a temporary suspension of the death penalty and establishes a commission to study the death penalty.
Bill Status
Introduced in House 6/6/03
Referred to House Judiciary 3/06/03
Alternate Sentencing/Special Courts/Diversion Programs/Miscellaneous
Sponsors Include
Costa (R -Centre)
Bill ID
SB 668
PN 1888
Description
An act transferring legal and administrative authority of the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) to the Pennsylvania state police. Its stricter regulations seek more accurate UCR’s and college campus crime reports.
Bill Status
Passed in Senate and House
Signed by Governor on 11.29.04
Bill ID
HB 835
PN 4783
Description
An act that requires all convicted felons in Pennsylvania to submit a DNA sample to the Pennsylvania State Police. Any felon serving a prison sentence must provide a DNA sample, regardless of if they were convicted before the effective start of the new law. Also removes the statute of limitations for felonies and certain misdemeanor sex offenses for DNA evidence.
Bill Status
Passed in House and Senate
Awaiting Governor's signature
Sponsors Include
James (D-Philadelphia)
Washington (D-Philadelphia)
Williams (D-Philadelphia)
Bill ID
HB 2898PN 4509
Description
Bill Status
Introduced in House 10/07/04
Referred to Judiciary, 10/07/04
Sponsors Include
Erickson (R - Delaware )
Bill ID
SB 356
PN 1980
Description
An act making criminal history record reports free for non-profit organizations.
Bill Status
Passed in Senate and House
Awaiting Governor's Signature.
Sponsors Include
Nailor (R - Cumberland)
Bill ID
HB 477
PN 4798
Description
An act defining mandatory minimums for individuals who violate the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act while at the time of the offense carrying a firearm.
Bill Status
Passed in Senate and House
Awaiting Governor’s Signature
Bill ID
HB 2396
PN 4464
Description
This bill alters the time a claim may be filed to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund from two years after the crime occurs to two years after the discovery of the crime. The bill also ensures that people convicted of drunk driving offenses will contribute to this fund.
Bill Status
Passed in House and Senate
Approved by Governor on 11/19/04
Sponsors Include
Greenleaf (R-Montgomery)
Bill ID
SB 400
PN 414
Description
Called the “Sex Offender Treatment Act”, this bill provides for the establishment , funding, development of standards, monitoring system, and training for sex offender treatment program.
Bill Status
Introduced in Senate 3/04/03
Referred to Judiciary, 3/04/03
Sponsors Include
Greenleaf (R-Montgomery)
Bill ID
SR 220
PN 1499
Description
Opposes the amendments made (3/24/04) to the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision in part because the amendments would permit certain offenders to relocate to PA and not be subject to law enforcement supervision in this state.
Bill Status
Adopted, 6/22/04
Bill ID
SB 217
PN 1758
Description
Provides for imprisonment with drug treatment and establishes the Drug Treatment for Offenders Program. The companion bill is HB 1434.
Bill Status
Passed in the Senate, 6/28/04
Passed in the House, 10/20/04
Approved by the Governor, 11/19/2004
Bill ID
SB 129
PN 147
Description
Allows courts to establish a separate drug court division that will focus on preventing recidivism through treatment and job placement.
Bill Status
Referred to Judiciary, 2/3/2003
Sponsors Include
McGeehan (D-Philadelphia)
Roebuck (D-Philadelphia)
Bebko-Jones (D-Erie)
Bill ID
HB 1281
PN 1591
Description
Provides for compensation for persons who have been unjustly incarcerated.
Bill Status
Referred to House Judiciary Committee, 5/3/03
Sponsors Include
Scrimenti (D-Erie)
George (D-Clearfield)
Youngblood (D-Philadelphia)
Bill ID
HB 1957
PN 2557
Description
An Act that allows prisoners in state and county prisons to decide if they would like to donate their organs.
Bill Status
Introduced in the House 9/09/03
Referred to Health and Human Services, 10/09/03
Bill ID
HB 2353
PN 3281
Description
An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, providing for staffing levels and limitations on inmate capacity at State correctional institutions.
Bill Status
Referred to Senate Judiciary, 3/22/04
Prisons and Parole
Sponsors Include
Description
An act that prohibits the death penalty in cases where the defendant is deemed mentally retarded and instead calls for a sentence of life without parole.
Bill Status
Introduced in Senate 6/09/03
Referred to Senate Judiciary, 6/09/03
Bill ID
HB 1121
PN 1323
Description
Called the “earned time” or “good time” bill, this establishes a system of earned time toward parole.
Bill Status
No movement since the bill’s introduction on 4/9/03
Bill ID
HB 2397
PN 4147
Description
Relates to registration of sex offenders, further defines “predatory,” registration procedures and offense of failure to comply with registration.
Bill Status
Final passage in the House, 5/26/04
Re-referred to Senate Appropriations, 6/28/04
Bill ID
SB 92
PN 1995
Description
An act that strengthens Megan’s Law by requiring that all convicted sex offenders be listed on the Internet. Sex offenders who relocate from other states are also subject to public notification requirements.
Bill Status
Passed in House and Senate
Approved by Governor on 11/24/2004