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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| SENATE BILL |
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| INTRODUCED BY WARD, D. WHITE, PIPPY, WAUGH, BROWNE, FONTANA, WASHINGTON AND MELLOW, NOVEMBER 8, 2010 |
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| REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, NOVEMBER 8, 2010 |
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| AN ACT |
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1 | Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania |
2 | Consolidated Statutes, providing for duty of witness of |
3 | violent offense; and imposing a penalty. |
4 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
5 | hereby enacts as follows: |
6 | Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated |
7 | Statutes is amended by adding a section to read: |
8 | § 306.1. Duty of witness of violent offense. |
9 | (a) General rule.--A person who witnesses the actual |
10 | commission of a violent offense or preparations for the |
11 | commission of a violent offense shall as soon as reasonably |
12 | possible notify law enforcement unless the person has a |
13 | reasonable belief that making such a report would place that |
14 | person or another family or household member in danger of |
15 | immediate physical harm. |
16 | (b) Method of notification.--The duty to notify under this |
17 | section is met if a person notifies or attempts to provide law |
18 | enforcement the notice by telephone or any other means as soon |
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1 | as reasonably possible. |
2 | (c) Penalty.--A person who fails to provide notification as |
3 | required by subsection (a) commits a misdemeanor of the third |
4 | degree. |
5 | (d) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "violent |
6 | offense" means any of the following: |
7 | (1) Murder of the first, second or third degree. |
8 | (2) Voluntary manslaughter. |
9 | (3) Aggravated assault as defined in section 2702(a)(1) |
10 | or (2) (relating to aggravated assault). |
11 | (4) Rape. |
12 | (5) Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. |
13 | (6) Aggravated indecent assault. |
14 | (7) Incest. |
15 | (8) Sexual assault. |
16 | (9) Arson as defined in section 3301(a) (relating to |
17 | arson and related offenses). |
18 | (10) Kidnapping. |
19 | (11) Burglary as defined in section 3502 (relating to |
20 | burglary). |
21 | (12) An attempt, conspiracy or solicitation to commit |
22 | any of the offenses listed in this subsection. |
23 | Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately. |
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