Legislative Update

Sponsors Include

White
Kitchen
Costa

Bill ID

SB 631
PN 745
 

Description

This bill would amend Title 42 to prohibit the imposition of the death sentence in cases in which the petitioner is a person with mental retardation.

Bill Status

Re-referred to Appropriations, 4/24/06.

Position

The Prison Society opposes the use of the death penalty under any circumstances.

Sponsors Include

O'Brien
Gingrich
Godshall

Bill ID

HB 2467
PN 3716
 

Description

Legislation proposed to amend Title 18 and 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. Amendments to Title 18 allow persons convicted of first degree murder of a law enforcement officer to be sentenced to death and persons convicted of second degree murder of a law enforcement officer to be sentenced to life imprisonment. Proposed amendments to Title 42 include mandatory minimum sentencing of life in prison for persons convicted of first or second-degree murder of a law enforcement officer.

Bill Status

Final passage in House, June 13, 2006 (199-1). (Remarks see House Journal), June 13, 2006.

Sponsors Include

O'Brien
Baker
Belfanti

Bill ID

HB 2765
PN 4397
 

Description

Amends Title 44 to provide for required DNA sample collection at the time or arrest, not just conviction, if the crime in question was a felony sex offense. Also provides for procedural changes for removal of DNA information from inclusion in State Police databases in erroneous cases and expungement.

Bill Status

Re-committed to Rules, June 27, 2006

Sponsors Include

Orie
Boscola
Tartaglione and Vance

Bill ID

SB 657
PN 751
 

Description

Establishes a civil procedure for the involuntary outpatient commitment of sexually violent predators with the installation of a permanent tracking device upon their person.

Bill Status

Referred to Judiciary, 4/28/05

Sponsors Include

Orie
Punt
Corman

Bill ID

SB 944
PN 1235
 

Description

Proposed amendments to Titles 18 and 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. Title 18 amendments include minimum sentences of 50 and 25 years for persons convicted of rape or deviate sexual intercourse respectively. Title 42 amendments would require a person classified as a sexually violent predator to be fitted with a GPS tracking device and restricted to travel within their county of residence.

Bill Status

Third consideration and final passage, June 19, 2006 (50-0)(Remarks see Senate Journal), June 19, 2006

Position

The Prison Society opposes mandatory minimum sentences that reduce judicial discretion and heavily burden the already costly prison system, especially when alternative sentencing and treatment has had proven effects on recidivism and community safety.

Sponsors Include

O'Pake
Mellow
Costa

Bill ID

SB 1131
PN 1678
 

Description

Expands requirements for information on sex offenders to be post on the Internet, including specific details of the crime, further information on the location of the offender and, if incarcerated, the date of earliest possible release.

Bill Status

Re-referred to Appropriations, April 18, 2006

Position

Sponsors Include

Petri
Argall
Bebko-Jones

Bill ID

SB 2447
PN 3982
 

Description

Amends Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to expand the financial burden of a defendant to include administrative costs such as transportation and any other costs deemed relevant to prosecution.

Bill Status

Referred to Judiciary, June 13, 2006. Reported and first consideration, June 13, 2006.

Position

Sponsors Include

Reichley
Baker
Baldwin

Bill ID

SB 2203
PN 3984
 

Description

Amend Titles 18 and 42 to create mandatory sentencing for failure to comply with sex offender registration. Mandatory sentences will be from 2 to 7 years in prison depending on whether or not failure to register was a repeat offense.

Bill Status

Final passage, April 26, 2006 (187-0) (Remarks see House Journal), April 26, 2006
In the Senate. Referred to Judiciary, June 20, 2006

Position

Sponsors Include

O'Brien
Bebko-Jones
Belfanti

Bill ID

SB 698
PN 4192
 

Description

Further provides for definitions and elements of proof for defendants with mental retardation. Creates mandatory guidelines for the burden of proof of mental retardation. Also provides for exemptions from jury duty and jury instructions in cases where the defendant is a person with mental retardation.

Bill Status

Final passage in House, June 12, 2006 (169-28). (Remarks see House Journal), June 12, 2006.

Position

Sponsors Include

Godshall
Thomas
DeWeese

Bill ID

HB 2047
PN 2824
 

Description

Further provides for sentences for offenses committed with firearms. Specifically, if a firearm in the commission of the offense was stolen, or the firearm was discharged during its commission, defendant will be sentenced to a minimum sentence of at least seven years of total confinement.

Bill Status

Re-committed to Rules, June 13, 2006

Position

Sponsors Include

Reichly
Baker
Belfanti

Bill ID

HB 2501
PN 3675
 

Description

Legislation proposes to amend Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by increasing the maximum allowable sentence for a felony of the first degree to 30 years, and for a felony of the second degree to 15 years.

Bill Status

Referred to Judiciary Committee, 3/13/06.

Sponsors Include

Greenleaf
Lemmond
Costa

Bill ID

SB 1072
PN 1446
 

Description

This legislation amends Title 42 to provide for the medical release of inmates who are seriously or terminally ill. It would provide for a process involving an initial petition, needs assessment, notification of entities including the victim of the crime for which the candidate was incarcerated, and hearings. Inmates who are sentenced to death would not be eligible for medical release under this legislation.

Bill Status

Referred to Judiciary, 1/24/06.

Position

The Prison Society strongly supports avenues to alleviate the burden of the overcrowded prison system and the compassionate release of seriously or terminally ill prisoners so they may live in dignity with family and loved ones.

Sponsors Include

Roberts
Thomas
James

Bill ID

HR 192
PN 1298
 

Description

This resolution urges the restoration of voting rights to persons being detained in custody of law enforcement waiting trial, and states that detention facilities are responsible to provide voting access to detainees who are not convicted of a crime.

Bill Status

Referred to State Government, 3/29/05.