Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB808

Introduced
3/5/25  

Caption

In limitation of time, further providing for no limitation applicable.

Impact

The enactment of HB 808 would significantly affect the state's criminal justice system. By lifting the statute of limitations on severe crimes, the bill seeks to close gaps that allow offenders to escape prosecution as time passes. It reflects a broader trend of enhancing victim rights and expanding opportunities for justice in cases that may have gone cold due to traditional legal constraints. Lawmakers argue that this change will empower victims who may feel discouraged from coming forward after a significant amount of time has lapsed since the offense occurred.

Summary

House Bill 808 amends Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by eliminating the statute of limitations for certain serious offenses. This includes crimes such as murder, voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault against law enforcement, and various sexual offenses involving minors or care-dependent individuals. The bill aims to allow these crimes to be prosecuted at any time, thereby prioritizing victim rights and accountability for offenders who may currently evade justice due to time limitations on filing charges.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 808 appears largely supportive among advocates for victims' rights who see the elimination of time limits as a necessary step towards justice. However, there might also be critiques regarding the practical implications for prosecutorial resources and the potential for cases to be pursued many years after the fact, which some opponents argue could lead to issues in the accused's ability to defend themselves adequately. This sentiment reflects a tension between the right to seek justice and the rights of the accused.

Contention

Some points of contention regarding HB 808 could revolve around concerns from defense advocates about fairness and the potential for wrongful accusations years after events have transpired. The bill, while well-intentioned in its aim to protect victims and afford them justice, raises questions about the balance between victim advocacy and the rights of the accused. Lawmakers may engage in debates regarding the impact of such provisions on due process, especially in cases where memories may fade, and evidence may become less reliable over time.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB261

In limitation of time, further providing for no limitation applicable.

PA HB1614

In limitation of time, further providing for no limitation applicable.

PA SB578

In child protective services, further providing for penalties; in limitation of time, further providing for infancy, insanity or imprisonment, for no limitation applicable and for other offenses; in particular rights and immunities, further providing for contracts or agreements for nondisclosure of certain conduct; and, in matters affecting government units, further providing for exceptions to sovereign immunity and for exceptions to governmental immunity.

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 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 SB1111

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

PA HB1555

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in pupils and attendance, providing for educational oversight for juveniles in facilities, further providing for possession of weapons prohibited and providing for placement of certain adjudicated students; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for reporting and providing for School-Based Diversion Programs Fund; in school security, further providing for powers and duties and providing for limitations on proceedings and arrest; and, in school districts of the first class, repealing provisions relating to placement of certain adjudicated students.

PA HB1708

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in pupils and attendance, providing for educational oversight for students in facilities, further providing for possession of weapons prohibited and providing for school stability for certain students; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for reporting and establishing the School-Based Diversion Programs Fund; in school security, further providing for powers and duties and providing for limitations on proceedings and arrest; and, in school districts of the first class, repealing provisions relating to placement of certain adjudicated students.

PA HB1381

In juvenile matters, further providing for short title and purposes of chapter, for definitions, for scope of chapter, for powers and duties of probation officers, for summary offenses, for inspection of court files and records, for guardian ad litem for child in court proceedings, for transfer from criminal proceedings, for informal adjustment, for taking into custody, for detention of child, for release or delivery to court and for place of detention, providing for confinement in juvenile treatment facilities, further providing for notice and hearing, providing for questioning and interrogating a child, further providing for consent decree, providing for school stability for certain students, further providing for disposition of delinquent child, for limitation on and change in place of commitment and for transfer to criminal proceedings.

PA HB1059

In child protective services, further providing for definitions.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.