Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB849

Introduced
3/10/25  

Caption

In falsification and intimidation, providing for the offense of failure to comply with child abuse offender registration requirements; in sentencing, providing for registration of child abuse offenders; and imposing penalties.

Impact

The proposed legislation reinforces existing child abuse offender laws by introducing clear definitions and procedures for registration and verification. It establishes penalties for offenders who fail to comply with these requirements, turning violations into felonies of varying degrees based on prior offenses. This amendment could significantly raise awareness and scrutiny of offenders, potentially leading to increased public safety measures and proactive monitoring of high-risk individuals.

Summary

House Bill 849 aims to amend Titles 18 and 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing stricter requirements for child abuse offenders to comply with registration mandates. The bill specifically addresses the offense of failing to register or verify registration information with the Pennsylvania State Police, including the conditions for registration periods and penalties for non-compliance. This reform seeks to enhance the monitoring of child abuse offenders, thereby aiming to protect minors from potential threats posed by these individuals.

Sentiment

The sentiment around HB 849 appears largely supportive, as it aligns with public interests prioritizing child protection and stringent measures against child abuse offenders. However, there may be concerns regarding the implications for rehabilitation, as critics could argue that harsher penalties may not necessarily equate to better outcomes in preventing recidivism or facilitating the reintegration of offenders into society.

Contention

Notably, points of contention surrounding this bill will likely center around the balance between public safety and the rights of offenders. During legislative discussions, there may be debates on whether the proposed penalties are too severe or if they adequately address the need for community safety without undermining the potential for rehabilitation. Additionally, the bill's provisions for using technology in monitoring offenders might raise privacy concerns among civil rights advocates.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB47

In falsification and intimidation, further providing for failure to comply with 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 97 Subch. I registration requirements; and, in sentencing, further providing for registration.

PA HB2589

In Pennsylvania State Police, providing for nonpublic database registry of domestic violence offenders; and imposing penalties.

PA HB1843

In depositions and witnesses, providing for sentencing considerations for child victim offenders.

PA HB2409

In sentencing, further providing for period of registration and for registration; and establishing the Registration of Sexual Offenders Restricted Account.

PA SB600

In authorized disposition of offenders, further providing for sentence for murder, murder of unborn child and murder of law enforcement officer; in arson, criminal mischief and other property destruction, further providing for the offense of arson and related offenses; and, in sentencing, further providing for sentencing procedure for murder of the first degree.

PA HB376

In sexual offenses, providing for the offense of fertility fraud; in particular rights and immunities, providing for damages in actions for fertility fraud; and, in sentencing, further providing for applicability, for sexual offenses and tier system and for period of registration.

PA HB1909

In sexual offenses, further providing for the offense of rape and for the offense of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse; and, in sentencing, providing for sentencing procedure for rape of a child and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child and further providing for sentences for offenses against infant persons.

PA SB1213

In sexual offenses, further providing for the offense of unlawful dissemination of intimate image; in minors, further providing for the offense of sexual abuse of children and for the offense of transmission of sexually explicit images by minor; and making editorial changes to replace references to the term "child pornography" with references to the term "child sexual abuse material."

PA SB812

In falsification and intimidation, further providing for the offense of false alarms to agencies of public safety.

PA HB1187

In authorized disposition of offenders, further providing for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition prohibited; in criminal homicide, further providing for the offense of murder; in assault, further providing for the offense of stalking and for the offense of unauthorized administration of intoxicant; in sexual offenses, further providing for definitions and for the offense of rape, repealing provisions relating to the offense of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and further providing for the offense of sexual assault, for the offense of institutional sexual assault, for the offense of sexual assault by sports official, volunteer or employee of nonprofit association, for the offense of aggravated indecent assault and for general rule relating to loss of property rights; in wiretapping and electronic surveillance, further providing for definitions and for order authorizing interception of wire, electronic or oral communications; in public indecency, further providing for the offense of prostitution and related offenses; in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms; in minors, further providing for transmission of sexually explicit images by minor; in criminal history record information, further providing for expungement and for juvenile records; in child custody, further providing for consideration of criminal conviction; in protection from abuse, further providing for definitions; in child protective services, further providing for definitions, for exclusions from child abuse and for employees having contact with children and adoptive and foster parents; in domestic and sexual violence victim address confidentiality, further providing for penalties; in limitation of time, further providing for infancy, insanity or imprisonment, for no limitation applicable and for other offenses; in depositions and witnesses, further providing for spouses as witnesses against each other and for hearsay; in juvenile matters, further providing for definitions, for inspection of court files and records, for law enforcement records, for conduct of hearings, for transfer to criminal proceedings and for assessment of delinquent children by the State Sexual Offenders Assessment Board; in court-ordered involuntary treatment of certain sexually violent persons, further providing for definitions and for court-ordered involuntary treatment; in sentencing, further providing for sentences for second or subsequent offenses, for sentences for offenses against elderly persons, for sentences for offenses against infant persons, for sentences for offenses committed while impersonating a law enforcement officer, for sentencing for trafficking of persons, for definitions, for sexual offenses and tier system, for termination of period of registration for juvenile offenders, for assessments, for registration and for assessments; in judicial change of name, further providing for change by order of court; in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for parole procedure; and, in interstate compacts, further providing for supervision of persons paroled by other states.

Similar Bills

PA HB2589

In Pennsylvania State Police, providing for nonpublic database registry of domestic violence offenders; and imposing penalties.

PA HB1591

Requiring persons convicted of arson and related offenses to register with local authorities; providing for duties of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Parole Board; and imposing a penalty.

PA HB1360

Requiring persons convicted of arson and related offenses to register with local authorities; providing for duties of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Parole Board; and imposing a penalty.

PA HB1470

In limitation of time, further providing for six months limitation; in matters affecting government units, further providing for exceptions to sovereign immunity, for limitations on damages and for exceptions to governmental immunity and providing for claims for compensation for wrongful conviction; in general administration, providing for services after wrongful conviction; and, in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for powers and duties of department.

PA SB791

In limitation of time, further providing for six months limitation; in matters affecting government units, further providing for exceptions to sovereign immunity, for limitations on damages and for exceptions to governmental immunity and providing for claims for compensation for wrongful conviction; in general administration, providing for services after wrongful conviction; and, in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for powers and duties of department.

PA HB545

In limitation of time, further providing for six months limitation; in matters affecting government units, further providing for exceptions to sovereign immunity, for limitations on damages and for exceptions to governmental immunity and providing for claims for compensation for wrongful conviction; in general administration, providing for services after wrongful conviction; and, in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for powers and duties of department.

PA SB54

In limitation of time, further providing for six months limitation; in matters affecting government units, further providing for exceptions to sovereign immunity, for limitations on damages and for exceptions to governmental immunity and providing for claims for compensation for wrongful conviction; in general administration, providing for services after wrongful conviction; and, in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for powers and duties of department.

PA SB626

In court-ordered involuntary treatment of certain sexually violent persons, providing for court-ordered involuntary treatment of certain persons for controlled substance addiction; imposing duties on the Department of Human Services; and making editorial changes.