An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in criminal homicide, further providing for the offense of drug delivery resulting in death.
HB 648 creates a new first-degree felony offense for intentionally delivering a controlled substance (in violation of Pennsylvania's drug laws) that results in another person's death. The bill explicitly removes defenses that the victim voluntarily used the drug or used it with other substances, such as alcohol or additional drugs. This law directly affects drug sellers, distributors, or those who illegally provide controlled substances leading to a fatal overdose. It changes the legal standard by making such deaths prosecutable without the previous defenses that could have been raised in court.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 20, 2025
Last action Feb 20, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
1
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
lower
1 primary · 5 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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