PRINTER'S NO. 1717
No. 1414 Session of 1991
INTRODUCED BY HAGARTY, BLAUM, NAHILL, CALTAGIRONE, DALEY,
HECKLER, J. TAYLOR, KOSINSKI, ANGSTADT, KRUSZEWSKI,
G. SNYDER, CLYMER, LaGROTTA, SEMMEL, HERMAN, ITKIN, BARLEY,
FLEAGLE, DeLUCA, LUCYK, ULIANA, HASAY, PHILLIPS, VROON,
BATTISTO, GERLACH, PETRONE, WAMBACH, BELARDI, CORNELL,
E. Z. TAYLOR, MELIO, HARPER, MICHLOVIC, MICOZZIE, FARMER,
STABACK, GODSHALL, GIGLIOTTI, NOYE, STEELMAN, D. W. SNYDER,
PISTELLA, GRUPPO, SERAFINI, BUNT, CIVERA, SURRA, KING,
BUTKOVITZ, STURLA, HARLEY, RITTER AND TELEK, MAY 29, 1991
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGING AND YOUTH, MAY 29, 1991
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, further defining "child abuse."
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. The definition of "child abuse" in section 6303
6 of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, added
7 December 19, 1990 (P.L. , No.206), is amended to read:
8 § 6303. Definitions.
9 The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
10 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11 context clearly indicates otherwise:
12 "Child abuse." Serious physical or mental injury which is
13 not explained by the available medical history as being
14 accidental[, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation] or serious
1 physical neglect of a child under 18 years of age if the injury,
2 abuse or neglect has been caused by the acts or omissions of the
3 child's parents or by a person responsible for the child's
4 welfare, or any individual residing in the same home as the
5 child, or a paramour of the child's parent or sexual abuse or
6 sexual exploitation of a child under 18 years of age caused by
7 any person. No child shall be deemed to be physically or
8 mentally abused for the sole reason the child is in good faith
9 being furnished treatment by spiritual means through prayer
10 alone in accordance with the tenets and practices of a
11 recognized church or religious denomination by an accredited
12 practitioner thereof or is not provided specified medical
13 treatment in the practice of religious beliefs, or solely on the
14 grounds of environmental factors which are beyond the control of
15 the person responsible for the welfare of the child such as
16 inadequate housing, furnishings, income, clothing and medical
17 care.
18 * * *
19 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 90 days.
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