PRINTER'S NO. 4076
No. 2930 Session of 1998
INTRODUCED BY LLOYD, BAKER, BELARDI, HARHAI, FARGO, PESCI,
READSHAW, ROSS, SANTONI, SCRIMENTI, SHANER, THOMAS, TIGUE,
TRAVAGLIO, WALKO, KAISER AND MELIO, NOVEMBER 10, 1998
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, NOVEMBER 10, 1998
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
2 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, regulating publication of
3 information and stories given at trials; and providing
4 penalties.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
8 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
9 § 8313. Profits received by jurors and witnesses following
10 conclusion of trial.
11 (a) Jurors.--No person who serves as a member or alternate
12 member of a jury at a trial shall sell or enter into a contract
13 for the sale of any information or story relating to the trial
14 for a period of not less than two years from the conclusion of
15 the trial.
16 (b) Witnesses.--No person who acts as a witness at a trial
17 shall sell or enter into a contract for the sale of any
18 information or story relating to the trial for a period of not
1 less than two years from the conclusion of the trial.
2 (c) Penalties.--A person who violates subsection (a) or (b)
3 shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 for
4 each offense and not more than an amount equal to three times
5 the contract amount.
6 (d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
7 words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
8 subsection:
9 "Conclusion of trial." Entry of a judgment, including
10 damages and sentencing where applicable.
11 "Trial." A judicial examination and determination of issues
12 between parties to an action, whether law or fact, either civil
13 or criminal, before a court that has proper jurisdiction. The
14 term shall include proceedings before a grand jury.
15 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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