This bill establishes new Boards of Prison Inspectors at each Pennsylvania State correctional institution to oversee facility conditions and operations. The boards will consist of 18 members including medical professionals, educators, law enforcement officers, county officials, and community representatives, with at least one member being a former inmate or family member of an inmate. Each board will conduct unannounced inspections at least twice annually, review inmate complaints and officer misconduct records, and submit public reports on their findings. Board members serve three-year terms without pay but receive expense reimbursement, and they are prohibited from being current employees of the correctional system.
This bill amends Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act to regulate residential rental application fees and background check policies. It limits application fees to the lesser of the actual cost of a background check or $50, allowing landlords to charge only for criminal history and credit checks. The legislation also requires landlords to make individualized assessments when considering criminal history, evaluating factors like the nature of the offense and time elapsed since conviction. These rules apply only to residential properties and cannot be waived by applicants through contracts.
This bill amends Pennsylvania's Dog Law to require state dog wardens and department employees to complete specific training and receive certification before carrying or using firearms or stun guns while performing their duties. The legislation establishes that these officials must have approval from the Secretary of Agriculture and hold valid certification under existing law enforcement training programs or a department-approved training course. It also sets conditions for employment, allowing the department to refuse hiring, suspend, or revoke employment for wardens who fail training requirements, have disqualifying criminal records, or misuse weapons. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for grandfathering existing wardens who have completed similar training and outlines specific grounds for disciplinary action related to weapon possession and enforcement conduct.
This bill amends Pennsylvania's obstruction of governmental operations laws to create a specific exception for healthcare facilities. It allows nonviolent obstruction of law enforcement entry at hospitals and emergency departments unless officers have probable cause and a judicial warrant for a specific individual. The law defines key terms like "health care facility," "emergency department," and "judicial warrant" to clarify when this protection applies. The changes would take effect 60 days after enactment and apply to all law enforcement officers within the state.
This Pennsylvania bill proposes changes to state rape sentencing laws by introducing mandatory hormonal or surgical treatment options for convicted offenders. The legislation would allow courts to order convicted rapists to undergo medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment or voluntarily elect surgical castration as part of their sentence. These measures apply to individuals convicted under specific subsections of the state's rape statute, with maximum sentences ranging from 40 years to life imprisonment depending on the offense severity. The Department of Corrections would administer any ordered treatment starting within one week before the offender's release from incarceration.
This bill allocates state gaming funds to four Pennsylvania agencies for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, including money to cover unpaid bills from the previous year. It distributes specific amounts from restricted gaming revenue accounts to the Attorney General, Department of Revenue, Pennsylvania State Police, and Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to cover salaries, wages, and operational expenses related to gaming oversight and enforcement. The legislation also prohibits transferring funds between these specific appropriations and takes effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill amends Pennsylvania's Sexual Assault Testing and Evidence Collection Act by updating the legal definition of "awaiting testing" for sexual assault evidence. The change clarifies that evidence awaiting testing includes items collected by law enforcement that have not yet undergone DNA or forensic analysis and are part of an ongoing criminal investigation. This definition update directly affects how law enforcement agencies and the Department of Health classify and manage sexual assault evidence in the state. The amendment ensures consistency in terminology used across the existing evidence collection program without altering other operational procedures.
This bill requires juvenile probation officers in Pennsylvania to administer a trauma-informed screening to children involved in delinquency cases to check for human trafficking victimization. The screening is designed to identify whether a child is currently being exploited or is at risk of becoming a victim of sexual servitude. If the screening indicates trafficking involvement or risk, the officer must connect the child with specialized support services for sexually exploited minors. The Department of Human Services and the Juvenile Court Judges' Commission will work together to develop and implement this screening process.
This bill updates Pennsylvania's criminal law by establishing a five-year statute of limitations for prosecuting specific serious offenses. It directly affects prosecutors and defendants by setting a deadline within which these cases must be filed after the alleged crime occurs. The law covers a wide range of crimes including murder-related attempts and conspiracies, violent offenses like kidnapping and robbery, financial crimes such as fraud and bribery, and other serious violations like arson and drug delivery resulting in death. The changes apply to all listed offenses regardless of whether the crime was completed or attempted, ensuring that serious allegations can still be pursued within a defined timeframe.
This bill requires law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania to provide seized individuals with specific documents within 14 days, including a copy of the relevant statute and a sample motion for returning property. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts will create and publish this sample motion on its public website, though it will not be the only form courts accept. The law applies to state police, local police departments, and campus police, and it takes effect 60 days after passage.
