Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB647

Introduced
4/21/25  

Caption

In public indecency, further providing for prostitution and related offenses.

Impact

The legislation aims to update and clarify the legal repercussions for prostitution-related offenses, aiming to lessen the stigma surrounding HIV-positive individuals while ensuring that public safety remains a priority. This could lead to a reduction in the harshness of penalties for those who have served their time or who have completed any necessary treatment, thereby allowing for the possibility of resentencing. If enacted, these changes would influence the treatment of those convicted under the old statutes, potentially leading to a more rehabilitative approach rather than purely punitive measures.

Summary

Senate Bill 647, introduced in Pennsylvania, amends Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes concerning public indecency and related offenses, specifically focusing on prostitution. The bill seeks to revise the grading of associated offenses, particularly addressing cases where individuals are aware of their HIV-positive status while engaged in or promoting prostitution. Significant amendments include the establishment of penalties based on the knowledge of the individual's health status, which emphasizes the need for public health considerations within the legal framework surrounding prostitution and related offenses.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding SB 647 appears cautiously optimistic, with support coming from advocates who seek to balance the need for appropriate legal consequences with compassion for individuals impacted by HIV. However, there may also be concerns among some legislators regarding the implications of modifying penalties in this area of the law, particularly about the messaging it sends about public indecency and health-related implications. As a result, there is a spectrum of opinions on how best to navigate the interplay between public health considerations and the integrity of criminal statutes.

Contention

Key points of contention likely revolve around the nature of the penalties associated with prostitution offenses and the implications of reducing sentences for offenders who fulfill certain criteria. Critics may argue that leniency could encourage illegal activities or inadvertently minimize the seriousness of probing public health concerns. Proponents will likely emphasize the importance of addressing health conditions humanely and the benefits of encouraging individuals to seek assistance without fear of overly severe punishment.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB2171

In public indecency, further providing for prostitution and related offenses.

PA SB1122

In public indecency, further providing for prostitution and related offenses.

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.

PA SB527

In theft and related offenses, further providing for the offense of theft of mail.

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 HB1326

In criminal homicide, repealing provisions relating to the offense of drug delivery resulting in death; in assault, providing for the offense of drug delivery resulting in death or serious bodily injury; in arson, criminal mischief and other property destruction, further providing for additional fine for arson committed for profit; in wiretapping and electronic surveillance, further providing for definitions; in limitation of time, further providing for no limitation applicable and for other offenses; and, in sentencing, further providing for sentences for second and subsequent offenses.

PA HB2030

In DNA data and testing, further providing for policy, for definitions, for State DNA Data Base, for State Police recommendation of additional offenses and annual report and for DNA sample required upon conviction, delinquency adjudication and certain ARD cases, providing for request for modified DNA search and further providing for DNA data base exchange, for expungement and for mandatory cost; and making an editorial change.

PA SB838

In sentencing, further providing for order of probation, for conditions of probation and for modification or revocation of order of probation and providing for probation review conference.

PA HB416

In assault, further providing for the offense of stalking.

PA HB999

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; in jurisdiction of appellate courts, further providing for direct appeals from courts of common pleas; in post-trial matters, further providing for postconviction DNA testing and for disposition and appeal; in sentencing, further providing for sentencing procedure for murder of the first degree; and, in execution procedure and method, repealing provisions relating to issuance of warrant.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.