THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY WILLIAMS, STACK, SOLOBAY, FONTANA, WASHINGTON, ALLOWAY, ERICKSON, BOSCOLA, FOLMER, COSTA, FARNESE, HUGHES, BROWNE, BRUBAKER, MENSCH, PIPPY AND TARTAGLIONE, AUGUST 2, 2011

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, AUGUST 2, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, further providing for wearing of

uniforms and insignia.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 6701 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

§ 6701.  [Wearing of uniforms and insignia] Uniforms, insignia

and military decorations or medals.

[A] (a)  Offense defined.--Except as provided under

subsection (b), a person is guilty of a summary offense if,

without authority, he:

(1)  wears or displays the uniform, decoration, insignia

or other distinctive emblem of any branch of the armed forces

of the United States or of any of the several states, or of

any association, for the purpose of obtaining aid or profit,

or while soliciting contributions or subscriptions; or

(2)  wears an honorable discharge button issued or

authorized by the United States.

(b)  False claims about receipt of military decorations or

medals.--

(1)  Except as provided under paragraph (2), a person

commits a misdemeanor of the third degree if the person

falsely represents himself verbally or in writing to have

been awarded any decoration or medal authorized by the

Congress of the United States for the armed forces of the

United States, any of the service medals or badges awarded to

the members of the armed forces of the United States, the

ribbon, button or rosette of any badge, decoration or medal

or any colorable imitation of the item with the intent to

commit fraud, obtain employment or be elected to public

office. Each violation shall constitute a separate offense.

(2)  (i)  If a decoration or medal involved in an offense

under paragraph (1) is any of the following, the person

commits a misdemeanor of the second degree:

(A)  The Congressional Medal of Honor.

(B)  The Distinguished Service Cross.

(C)  A Navy Cross.

(D)  An Air Force Cross.

(E)  A Silver Star Medal.

(F)  A Purple Heart.

(G)  Any replacement or duplicate medal for

medals listed under clauses (A), (B), (C), (D), (E)

and (F).

(ii)  Each violation under this paragraph shall

constitute a separate offense.

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