Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB1352

Introduced
4/30/25  

Caption

In minors, further providing for the offense of unlawful contact with minor.

Impact

The proposed amendments of HB 1352 would result in stricter penalties and broader definitions of offenses related to unlawful contact with minors. By explicitly including offenses related to human trafficking, sexual abuse, and exploitation of children, the bill intends to provide law enforcement and judicial systems with stronger tools to combat these heinous activities. This could potentially lead to increased prosecutions and greater awareness of the prevailing issues around child safety, as well as bolster community efforts to prevent these crimes.

Summary

House Bill 1352 amends Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, specifically addressing unlawful contact with minors. The bill seeks to expand the definition of unlawful contact to include a variety of offenses, particularly those with a sexual nature, aiming to enhance protections for minors from exploitation and abuse. This legislative measure is part of a broader initiative to strengthen laws concerning the safety and welfare of children in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, especially amidst rising concerns around child exploitation and trafficking.

Sentiment

Sentiment surrounding HB 1352 appears supportive, particularly among child welfare advocates and legislators focused on enhancing child protection measures. Many recognize the necessity for more robust laws to respond adequately to the evolving landscape of child exploitation. However, there may be concerns regarding the implications for civil liberties and the necessity of balancing law enforcement needs with the rights of individuals. Overall, the general mood is that of urgency for reform, but with a cautionary lens regarding the potential for overreach.

Contention

Notable points of contention regarding HB 1352 include the balance between enhancing child protection and ensuring proper enforcement measures that do not infringe on rights. Some discussions may arise over the possibility of increasing the criminalization of behaviors that could lead to unintended consequences or affect individuals differently based on their circumstances. The effectiveness of the bill in truly reducing incidents of child exploitation while safeguarding against misuse of law would likely be debated intensely.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB1660

In minors, further providing for the offense of unlawful contact with minor.

PA SB44

In human trafficking, further providing for definitions, for the offense of trafficking in individuals and for the offense of patronizing a victim of sexual servitude; in minors, further providing for unlawful contact with minor; and, in domestic and sexual violence victim address confidentiality, further providing for definitions and for persons eligible to apply.

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 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 HB1847

In minors, further providing for the offense of corruption of minors.

PA SB1111

In sentencing, further providing for definitions and for sexual offenses and tier system.

PA HB1063

In sexual offenses, providing for the offense of unlawful dissemination of artificially generated depiction; and, in minors, further providing for the offense of sexual abuse of children and for the offense of transmission of sexually explicit images by minor.

PA SB1083

In minors, further providing for the offense of sexual abuse of children and for the offense of transmission of sexually explicit images by minor.

PA HB2418

In minors, further providing for the offense of sexual abuse of children.

PA HB1782

In human trafficking, further providing for civil causes of action; in minors, further providing for sexual abuse of children; in computer offenses, further providing for definitions, for duty of Internet service provider and for application for order to remove or disable items; in child protective services, further providing for Task Force on Child Pornography; in recidivism risk reduction incentive, further providing for definitions; in Nonnarcotic Medication Assisted Substance Abuse Treatment Grant Pilot Program, further providing for definitions; in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for short sentence parole; and making an editorial change.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.