HB 407 creates a new criminal offense for unauthorized location tracking in Pennsylvania, making it illegal to install or use technology (such as apps or devices) to monitor someone's location without their consent. Exceptions include law enforcement during investigations, parents tracking minor children, guardians monitoring incapacitated persons, and other specific scenarios like fleet vehicle tracking with proper consent. The bill does not change existing stalking laws but adds this new provision to address technology-enabled harassment. It directly affects individuals who might use location-tracking tools to harass others, while clarifying permitted uses for safety and legal purposes.
SB 123 amends Pennsylvania's protection from abuse laws to allow courts to require electronic monitoring devices for defendants who pose a substantial risk of violating protection orders or committing crimes against victims. The bill defines an "electronic monitoring device" as a GPS-enabled wearable (wrist or ankle) that continuously tracks location within 100 miles, allows police to access data indefinitely, and cannot be removed without specialized tools or alerting police. Courts may order this monitoring for the full duration of a protection order, requiring defendants to stay at specific distances from victims and locations, with removal only permitted for "good cause" and after notifying the victim. This directly affects domestic violence victims seeking protection and defendants found to present significant safety risks.
Pennsylvania's SB 768 requires firearm owners living with someone who cannot legally possess a firearm (such as a convicted felon or someone under a restraining order) to store their guns securely. This means using a lockable device, built-in firearm lock, or locked container - except when the gun is carried on the person or within immediate reach. Violating this rule is a minor offense for a first violation, a misdemeanor for repeat offenses, and a felony if the improperly stored gun is used in a crime causing injury or death. The law directly affects households with gun owners and prohibited individuals, aiming to prevent unauthorized access. It takes effect 60 days after passage.
HB 383 prevents a spouse convicted of a personal injury crime against their partner from receiving alimony, unless a court determines it is necessary to avoid manifest injustice. It also allows victims to recover alimony paid before the conviction. The bill modifies Pennsylvania's alimony guidelines by excluding marital misconduct after separation but requires courts to consider abuse during marriage (defined under state law). This directly affects divorce cases involving domestic violence convictions.
HB 104 amends Pennsylvania's protection from abuse law to define "electronic monitoring device" and allow courts to mandate its use for high-risk defendants. The bill defines a GPS-enabled device worn on the wrist or ankle that continuously tracks location within 100 miles, with data retained indefinitely by police. Courts may require this device for defendants found to pose a substantial risk of violating protection orders or committing crimes against victims, setting specific distance limits and restricted locations. The device must stay in place for the full duration of the protection order unless removed for "good cause" with notification to the victim. This directly affects individuals subject to abuse protection orders who are deemed high-risk by courts.
House Bill 1397 amends Pennsylvania law to allow individuals to use media devices to record, transmit, or broadcast images, video, or audio of judicial proceedings without needing court approval. This change directly affects attendees of court proceedings and the judiciary by altering rules for public access and recording. However, the bill specifies several exceptions where this permission does not apply, including proceedings related to sexual abuse, domestic violence, protection from abuse, sexual violence or intimidation, and testimony from child witnesses or confidential informants.
HB 1419 amends Pennsylvania's domestic relations law to strengthen penalties for repeatedly violating protection-from-abuse orders. It creates tiered misdemeanor fines based on prior contempt violations: $500 minimum for a second offense, $500 for a third, and $500 for three or more offenses. The bill also removes jury trial rights for first-time violators (while guaranteeing legal counsel) and requires fines to fund domestic violence programs without replacing existing funding. This directly affects individuals who repeatedly disregard court-ordered protection from abuse. The changes aim to increase accountability for violating protective orders.
This bill (SB 37) amends Pennsylvania law to prohibit individuals convicted of specific violent or dangerous crimes from possessing firearms. It directly affects people convicted of offenses like murder, aggravated assault, robbery, sexual assault, stalking, or certain types of kidnapping. The key mechanism adds over 50 existing criminal offenses - such as assault involving a firearm, robbery, or child sexual abuse - to a list where a conviction triggers an automatic firearm possession ban. The change clarifies that if someone is convicted of any of these listed crimes, they cannot legally own or carry a firearm.
HB 1480 would create a nonpublic database registry for domestic violence offenders within the Pennsylvania State Police system. This registry would specifically track individuals convicted of domestic violence offenses, making their records accessible only to law enforcement and certain authorized personnel. The bill also establishes penalties for violations of the registry requirements, such as improper access or disclosure of the information. The primary effect is on domestic violence offenders whose records would be entered into this restricted system.
HB 1477 increases penalties for repeat stalking offenses in Pennsylvania. It upgrades second or subsequent stalking convictions (or first offenses with prior violent crimes against the same victim, like assault or rape) to a second-degree felony, requiring a minimum 5-year prison sentence and a maximum of 10 years. The bill mandates that courts must consider prior convictions for specific violent crimes when sentencing, with strict procedures for verifying those records. This directly affects individuals convicted of stalking who have prior violent offenses against the same person, altering sentencing outcomes without changing the definition of stalking itself.
