Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB752

Introduced
3/3/25  

Caption

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.

Impact

If enacted, HB 752 would modify existing statutes under Titles 18 and 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, adding substantial implications for sexually violent predators. The bill establishes strict limitations on where these individuals can reside, effectively creating buffer zones around educational institutions. This legislative move is intended to strengthen public safety measures and reflect a commitment to protecting children and families in the state. Additionally, the bill mandates that offenders must relocate if new educational facilities open within the designated zone, further amplifying the implications for residency restrictions.

Summary

House Bill 752 aims to amend Pennsylvania's laws concerning the registration and residency of sexually violent predators. Specifically, the bill requires that these individuals may not reside within 2,500 feet of public and private schools, as well as daycare centers. This measure is designed to enhance community safety by ensuring that vulnerable populations, such as children, are protected from offenders living in close proximity to places where they gather. The bill also outlines penalties for violations of these residency restrictions, which are classified as felonies of the second degree for those who knowingly fail to comply with the mandated distance requirements.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 752 appears to lean towards strong support from lawmakers concerned about community safety, particularly for children. Proponents argue that the bill is a necessary step in preventing crimes against minors and enhancing public safety. Conversely, there may be concerns about the effectiveness of such measures and the potential for unjustly penalizing individuals who are seeking to reintegrate into society after serving their sentences. Overall, the discussion may highlight varying perspectives on balancing public safety with the rights of offenders.

Contention

Notable points of contention include the effectiveness of residency restrictions in actually preventing offenses. Critics may argue that simply restricting where sexually violent predators can live does not address underlying issues of rehabilitation or support for reintegration. There is also the concern that such laws may disproportionately impact certain populations, limiting housing options for offenders. Thus, while the intentions behind HB 752 are framed around safety, the broader implications for communities, housing markets, and offender rehabilitation remains a nuanced part of the legislative discourse.

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 HB77

In sentencing, further providing for registration.

PA HB2409

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

PA SB1111

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

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 HB1771

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in registration system, further providing for departmental responsibilities; in voter registration, further providing for methods of voter registration and for application with driver's license application, providing for automatic voter registration and for time and further providing for preparation and distribution of applications and for approval of registration applications; and making a repeal.

PA HB1758

In registration system, further providing for SURE system; in voter registration, further providing for approval of registration applications; in records, further providing for public information lists; and, in changes in records, further providing for removal notices, for transfer of registration and for death of registrant.

PA SB812

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

PA HB1703

In voter registration, further providing for methods of voter registration, providing for electronic voter registration, for electronic submission of changes to registration and for time for electronic voter registration and further providing for preparation and distribution of applications and for approval of registration applications; in records, further providing for general register, for district registers and for reports; in changes in records, further providing for removal notices and for change of enrollment of political party; and, in penalties, further providing for altering registration.

PA HB1024

In assault, further providing for ethnic intimidation; in particular rights and immunities, further providing for civil rights violations; and, in employees, further providing for definitions and providing for annual officer training on hate-based intimidation.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.