HB 2443 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act providing for Child Victim Recovery Fee; establishing the Child Victim Recovery Fund; and imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

This bill creates a new fee in Pennsylvania courts to help fund support services for children who are victims of specific sexual offenses and crimes against minors. When a person is convicted, pleads guilty, or enters a diversion program for these crimes, they must pay a fee ranging from $250 to $1,000 depending on the severity of the offense. The collected money goes into a state fund that the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency uses to provide grants to children's advocacy centers. Courts are required to allow defendants who cannot afford the fee to pay it in installments, and the bill ensures that any restitution owed to victims is paid before this fee is collected.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2026
Committee Review
Jun 2026
House Passage
Jun 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 22, 2026 Last action Jun 24, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN3253 Printer's No. PN3616 · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill update adds new sponsors and formally records the bill as amended on second consideration. The most significant substantive change is the redefinition of 'covered offenses' to include any offense listed under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.14 (the Sexual Offenses and Tier System), which broadens the scope of crimes triggering the fee. Additionally, the ability to pay assessment was moved to a mandatory pre-imposition requirement rather than a post-imposition adjustment, and the list of permitted uses for grant funds was expanded to include trauma-focused mental health services and family support.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include all offenses under the Sexual Offenses and Tier System, not just the specific offenses previously listed.
DEFINITION

The definition of 'covered offense' was changed to reference the Sexual Offenses and Tier System statute, broadening the range of crimes subject to the fee.

REQUIREMENT

Courts must now determine a defendant's ability to pay before imposing the fee or setting installment plans, replacing the previous option to reduce payments only after hardship was shown.

FISCAL

The list of permitted uses for grant money was expanded to explicitly include trauma-focused mental health services, recovery supports, victim advocacy, family support, and crisis response.

ENFORCEMENT

New sponsors were added to the bill, and the text was updated to reflect that the bill was amended on second consideration.

Floor votes · House Jun 16, 2026

How they voted

2010
Passed
Total votes 201
Jun 16, 2026
D Democratic102
102 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican99
99 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
5
Committee
7
Jun 24, 2026
Committee
Re-referred to Appropriations
upper
Jun 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported as committed
upper
Jun 22, 2026
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
upper
Jun 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
Jun 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Jun 16, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (201-0)
house
Jun 16, 2026
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
May 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported as committed
lower
Apr 22, 2026
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
lower
1 primary · 44 co-sponsors

Sponsors