THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY D. O'BRIEN, BISHOP, MURT, VULAKOVICH, FABRIZIO, READSHAW AND TALLMAN, DECEMBER 7, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, DECEMBER 7, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, further providing for penalties for

failure to report or to refer.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 6319 of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

§ 6319.  Penalties for failure to report or to refer.

(1)  A person or official required by this chapter to

report a case of suspected child abuse or to make a referral

to the appropriate authorities who willfully fails to do so

commits a misdemeanor of the [third] second degree for the

first violation and a misdemeanor of the [second] first 

degree for a second or subsequent violation.

(2)  Notwithstanding 42 Pa.C.S. § 5552 (relating to other

offenses), a prosecution for a violation of this section may

be commenced within three years after the discovery of a

willful failure to report or refer as required under this

subchapter.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.