Bill Text: PA SB1498 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Providing for duty of witness of violent offense; and imposing a penalty.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 5-3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-11-08 - Referred to JUDICIARY [SB1498 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-SB1498-Introduced.html

  

 

    

PRINTER'S NO.  2312

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE BILL

 

No.

1498

Session of

2010

  

  

INTRODUCED BY WARD, D. WHITE, PIPPY, WAUGH, BROWNE, FONTANA, WASHINGTON AND MELLOW, NOVEMBER 8, 2010

  

  

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, NOVEMBER 8, 2010  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania

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Consolidated Statutes, providing for duty of witness of

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violent offense; and imposing a penalty.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

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Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

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§ 306.1.  Duty of witness of violent offense.

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(a)  General rule.--A person who witnesses the actual

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commission of a violent offense or preparations for the

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commission of a violent offense shall as soon as reasonably

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possible notify law enforcement unless the person has a

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reasonable belief that making such a report would place that

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person or another family or household member in danger of

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immediate physical harm.

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(b)  Method of notification.--The duty to notify under this

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section is met if a person notifies or attempts to provide law

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enforcement the notice by telephone or any other means as soon

 


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as reasonably possible.

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(c)  Penalty.--A person who fails to provide notification as

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required by subsection (a) commits a misdemeanor of the third

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degree.

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(d)  Definition.--As used in this section, the term "violent

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offense" means any of the following:

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(1)  Murder of the first, second or third degree.

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(2)  Voluntary manslaughter.

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(3)  Aggravated assault as defined in section 2702(a)(1)

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or (2) (relating to aggravated assault).

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(4)  Rape.

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(5)  Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.

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(6)  Aggravated indecent assault.

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(7)  Incest.

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(8)  Sexual assault.

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(9)  Arson as defined in section 3301(a) (relating to

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arson and related offenses).

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(10)  Kidnapping.

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(11)  Burglary as defined in section 3502 (relating to

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burglary).

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(12)  An attempt, conspiracy or solicitation to commit

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any of the offenses listed in this subsection.

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.

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