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                                 HOUSE AMENDED
        PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 223                       PRINTER'S NO. 1576

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE BILL

No. 216 Session of 2001


        INTRODUCED BY TARTAGLIONE, BELL, WAGNER, MELLOW, STOUT, MUSTO,
           O'PAKE, SCHWARTZ, LAVALLE, HUGHES, COSTA, KASUNIC, BODACK,
           BOSCOLA, KUKOVICH AND STACK, JANUARY 31, 2001

        AS RE-REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF
           REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, DECEMBER 4, 2001

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
     2     Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for
     3     COSTS, FOR COMMONWEALTH PORTION OF FINES AND FOR limitations   <--
     4     of actions.

     5     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     6  hereby enacts as follows:
     7     Section 1.  Section 5524 of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania       <--
     8  Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
     9     SECTION 1.  SECTIONS 1725.1 AND 3571(C) OF TITLE 42 OF THE     <--
    10  PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES ARE AMENDED TO READ:
    11  § 1725.1.  COSTS.
    12     (A)  CIVIL CASES.--SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (F), THE COSTS TO BE
    13  CHARGED BY DISTRICT JUSTICES IN EVERY CIVIL CASE, EXCEPT AS
    14  OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION, SHALL BE AS FOLLOWS:
    15         (1)  ACTIONS INVOLVING $500 OR
    16     LESS................................................. $30.00
    17         (2)  ACTIONS INVOLVING MORE THAN


     1     $500 BUT NOT MORE THAN $2,000........................ $40.00
     2         (3)  ACTIONS INVOLVING MORE THAN
     3     $2,000 BUT NOT MORE THAN $4,000...................... $50.00
     4         (4)  ACTIONS INVOLVING MORE THAN
     5     $4,000 BUT NOT MORE THAN $8,000...................... $75.00
     6         (5)  LANDLORD-TENANT ACTIONS INVOLVING
     7     LESS THAN $2,000..................................... $45.00
     8         (6)  LANDLORD-TENANT ACTIONS INVOLVING MORE
     9     THAN $2,000 BUT NOT MORE THAN $4,000................. $55.00
    10         (7)  LANDLORD-TENANT ACTIONS INVOLVING MORE
    11     THAN $4,000 BUT NOT MORE THAN $8,000................. $75.00
    12         (8)  ORDER OF EXECUTION.......................... $22.50
    13         (9)  OBJECTION TO LEVY........................... $10.00
    14         (10)  REINSTATEMENT OF COMPLAINT................. $ 5.00
    15  SUCH COSTS SHALL INCLUDE ALL CHARGES EXCEPT THE COSTS OF A
    16  DISTRICT JUSTICE'S TRANSCRIPT OF EVERY PROCEEDING ON APPEAL OR
    17  CERTIORARI (INCLUDING AFFIDAVIT AND CERTIFICATE) WHICH SHALL BE
    18  $2.50 PER TRANSCRIPT. SAID COSTS SHALL NOT INCLUDE, HOWEVER, THE
    19  COST OF POSTAGE AND REGISTERED MAIL WHICH SHALL BE BORNE BY THE
    20  PLAINTIFF.
    21     (A.1)  CUSTODY CASES.--EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION
    22  1725(C)(2)(V) (RELATING TO ESTABLISHMENT OF FEES AND CHARGES)
    23  AND SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (F), IN A CUSTODY CASE, THE COURT OF
    24  COMMON PLEAS SHALL, IN ADDITION TO THE COST PROVIDED BY GENERAL
    25  RULE, ASSESS A COST OF $5.00. EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE FUNDS
    26  GENERATED BY THE CHARGE UNDER THIS SUBSECTION SHALL BE
    27  TRANSMITTED BY THE PROTHONOTARY TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE TO
    28  PAY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 1904 (RELATING TO
    29  AVAILABILITY OF CRIMINAL CHARGE INFORMATION IN CHILD CUSTODY
    30  PROCEEDINGS).
    20010S0216B1576                  - 2 -

     1     (B)  CRIMINAL CASES.--SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (F), THE COSTS TO
     2  BE CHARGED BY THE MINOR JUDICIARY OR BY THE COURT OF COMMON
     3  PLEAS WHERE APPROPRIATE IN EVERY CRIMINAL CASE, EXCEPT AS
     4  OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION, SHALL BE AS FOLLOWS:
     5         (1)  SUMMARY CONVICTION, EXCEPT MOTOR VEHICLE
     6     CASES................................................ $28.50
     7         (2)  SUMMARY CONVICTION, MOTOR VEHICLES CASES,
     8     OTHER THAN PARAGRAPH (3)............................. $22.50
     9         (3)  SUMMARY CONVICTION, MOTOR VEHICLE CASES,
    10     HEARING DEMANDED..................................... $27.50
    11         (4)  MISDEMEANOR................................. $32.50
    12         (5)  FELONY...................................... $37.50
    13  SUCH COSTS SHALL INCLUDE ALL CHARGES INCLUDING THE COSTS OF
    14  GIVING A DISTRICT JUSTICE'S TRANSCRIPT TO THE PROSECUTOR OR
    15  DEFENDANT, OR BOTH, IF REQUESTED. SUCH COSTS SHALL NOT INCLUDE,
    16  HOWEVER, THE COST OF POSTAGE AND REGISTERED MAIL WHICH SHALL BE
    17  PAID BY THE DEFENDANT UPON CONVICTION.
    18     (C)  UNCLASSIFIED COSTS OR CHARGES.--SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION
    19  (F), THE COSTS TO BE CHARGED BY THE MINOR JUDICIARY IN THE
    20  FOLLOWING INSTANCES NOT READILY CLASSIFIABLE SHALL BE AS
    21  FOLLOWS:
    22         (1)  ENTERING TRANSCRIPT OF JUDGMENT FROM ANOTHER
    23     MEMBER OF THE MINOR JUDICIARY........................ $ 5.00
    24         (2)  MARRYING EACH COUPLE, MAKING RECORD THEREOF,
    25     AND CERTIFICATE TO THE PARTIES....................... $25.00
    26         (3)  GRANTING EMERGENCY RELIEF PURSUANT TO 23 PA.C.S.
    27     CH. 61 (RELATING TO PROTECTION FROM ABUSE)........... $10.00
    28         (4)  ISSUING A SEARCH WARRANT (EXCEPT AS PROVIDED
    29     IN SUBSECTION (D))................................... $10.00
    30         (5)  ANY OTHER ISSUANCE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    20010S0216B1576                  - 3 -

     1     IN THIS SUBSECTION................................... $10.00
     2     (D)  SEARCH WARRANTS.--IN EVERY CASE WHERE A SEARCH WARRANT
     3  IS REQUESTED BY A POLICE OFFICER, CONSTABLE OR OTHER PEACE
     4  OFFICER ENGAGED AS SUCH IN THE EMPLOY OR SERVICE OF THE
     5  COMMONWEALTH OR ANY OF ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, NO COST OR
     6  CHARGE SHALL BE ASSESSED AGAINST SUCH OFFICER, THE COMMONWEALTH
     7  OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH SEARCH
     8  WARRANT.
     9     (E)  FISH AND BOATING OFFENSES.--
    10         (1)  EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2), ANY PERSON
    11     CONVICTED OF A SUMMARY OFFENSE UNDER TITLE 30 (RELATING TO
    12     FISH) SHALL, IN ADDITION TO THE FINE IMPOSED, BE SENTENCED TO
    13     PAY $10 AS COSTS OF THE ISSUING AUTHORITY WHICH COSTS SHALL
    14     INCLUDE ALL CHARGES INCLUDING, WHEN CALLED FOR, THE COSTS OF
    15     POSTAGE AND REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL AND THE COSTS OF
    16     GIVING A TRANSCRIPT TO THE PROSECUTOR OR DEFENDANT, OR BOTH,
    17     IF REQUESTED.
    18         (2)  WHERE THE PERSON CHARGED WITH A SUMMARY OFFENSE
    19     UNDER TITLE 30 DEMANDS A HEARING, THE COSTS OF THE ISSUING
    20     AUTHORITY SHALL BE $15, WHICH COSTS SHALL INCLUDE ALL CHARGES
    21     INCLUDING THE CHARGES SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH (1).
    22     (F)  ANNUAL INCREASE IN COSTS.--BEGINNING ON JANUARY 1, 1994,
    23  AND EACH JANUARY 1 THEREAFTER, THE COSTS UNDER SUBSECTIONS (A),
    24  (B) AND (C) SHALL BE INCREASED BY THE PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE IN
    25  THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR URBAN WORKERS FOR THE IMMEDIATE
    26  PRECEDING CALENDAR YEAR WHICH SHALL BE PUBLISHED IN THE
    27  PENNSYLVANIA BULLETIN ANNUALLY BY THE SUPREME COURT ON OR BEFORE
    28  THE PRECEDING NOVEMBER 30. THIS SUBSECTION SHALL EXPIRE JANUARY
    29  1, [2001] 2010.
    30  § 3571.  COMMONWEALTH PORTION OF FINES, ETC.
    20010S0216B1576                  - 4 -

     1     * * *
     2     (C)  COSTS IN DISTRICT JUSTICE PROCEEDINGS.--
     3         (1)  COSTS COLLECTED BY A DISTRICT JUSTICE SHALL BE
     4     TRANSMITTED MONTHLY TO THE COMMONWEALTH IN AMOUNTS AS
     5     PRESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (B) AND THE BALANCE SHALL BE
     6     TRANSMITTED MONTHLY TO THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE MAGISTERIAL
     7     DISTRICT IS LOCATED. COSTS TRANSMITTED TO THE COMMONWEALTH
     8     SHALL BE CREDITED TO THE GENERAL FUND. COSTS TRANSMITTED TO
     9     THE COUNTY SHALL BE RETAINED BY THE COUNTY FOR ITS USE.
    10         (2)  AMOUNTS PAYABLE TO THE COMMONWEALTH:
    11             (I)  SUMMARY CONVICTION, EXCEPT MOTOR VEHICLE
    12         CASES.......................................... $10.00
    13             (II)  SUMMARY CONVICTION, MOTOR VEHICLE CASES OTHER
    14         THAN SUBPARAGRAPH (III)........................ $10.00
    15             (III)  SUMMARY CONVICTION, MOTOR VEHICLE CASES,
    16         HEARING DEMANDED............................... $10.00
    17             (IV)  MISDEMEANOR.......................... $13.00
    18             (V)  FELONY................................ $20.00
    19             (VI)  ASSUMPSIT OR TRESPASS INVOLVING:
    20                 (A)  $500 OR LESS..................... $12.50
    21                 (B)  MORE THAN $500 BUT NOT MORE THAN
    22             $2,000..................................... $20.00
    23                 (C)  MORE THAN $2,000 BUT NOT MORE
    24             THAN $4,000................................ $30.00
    25                 (D)  MORE THAN $4,000 BUT NOT MORE
    26             THAN $8,000................................ $50.00
    27             (VII)  LANDLORD-TENANT PROCEEDING INVOLVING:
    28                 (A)  $2,000 OR LESS.................... $20.00
    29                 (B)  MORE THAN $2,000 BUT NOT MORE THAN
    30             $4,000..................................... $25.00
    20010S0216B1576                  - 5 -

     1                 (C)  MORE THAN $4,000 BUT NOT MORE THAN
     2             $8,000..................................... $35.00
     3             (VIII)  OBJECTION TO LEVY.................. $ 5.00
     4             (IX)  ORDER OF EXECUTION................... $15.00
     5             (X)  ISSUING A SEARCH WARRANT (EXCEPT AS PROVIDED
     6         IN SECTION 1725.1(D) (RELATING TO COSTS))...... $ 7.00
     7             (XI)  ORDER OF POSSESSION.................. $15.00
     8         (3)  IN ALL CASES WHERE COSTS ARE BORNE BY THE COUNTY
     9     PURSUANT TO SECTION 1725.2 (RELATING TO ASSUMPTION OF SUMMARY
    10     CONVICTION COSTS BY COUNTY), NO SHARE OF SUCH COSTS SHALL BE
    11     PAYABLE TO THE COMMONWEALTH.
    12         (4)  BEGINNING ON JANUARY 1, 1994, AND EACH JANUARY 1
    13     THEREAFTER, THE COSTS UNDER PARAGRAPH (2) SHALL BE INCREASED
    14     BY THE PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR
    15     URBAN WORKERS FOR THE IMMEDIATE PRECEDING CALENDAR YEAR WHICH
    16     SHALL BE PUBLISHED IN THE PENNSYLVANIA BULLETIN ANNUALLY BY
    17     THE SUPREME COURT ON OR BEFORE THE PRECEDING NOVEMBER 30.
    18     THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL EXPIRE JANUARY 1, [2001] 2010.
    19     * * *
    20     SECTION 2.  SECTION 5524 OF TITLE 42 IS AMENDED BY ADDING A
    21  PARAGRAPH TO READ:
    22  § 5524.  Two year limitation.
    23     The following actions and proceedings must be commenced
    24  within two years:
    25         * * *
    26         (8)  An action to recover damages for injury to a person   <--
    27     or for the death of a person caused by the exposure to
    28     asbestos shall be commenced within two years from the date
    29     the person was informed by a licensed physician that the
    30     person has an injury which is caused by such exposure.
    20010S0216B1576                  - 6 -

     1         (8)  AN ACTION TO RECOVER DAMAGES FOR INJURY TO A PERSON   <--
     2     OR FOR THE DEATH OF A PERSON CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS.
     3     THE TIME WITHIN WHICH SUCH ACTION MUST BE COMMENCED SHALL BE
     4     COMPUTED FROM THE DATE ON WHICH THE PERSON IS INFORMED BY A
     5     HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER WHO IS AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE SOME
     6     COMPONENT OF THE HEALING ARTS BY A LICENSE, PERMIT,
     7     CERTIFICATE OR REGISTRATION ISSUED BY A COMMONWEALTH
     8     LICENSING AGENCY OR BOARD OR AN EQUIVALENT AGENCY OR BOARD IN
     9     ANOTHER STATE THAT THE PERSON HAS BEEN INJURED BY SUCH
    10     EXPOSURE OR FROM THE DATE ON WHICH THE PERSON KNEW, OR IN THE
    11     EXERCISE OF REASONABLE DILIGENCE, AS DETERMINED BY THE TRIER
    12     OF FACT, SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, THAT HE HAD AN INJURY WHICH WAS
    13     CAUSED BY SUCH EXPOSURE, WHICHEVER DATE OCCURS FIRST.
    14     Section 2 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.           <--











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