PRINTER'S NO. 1513
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
1113
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY WARD, BROWNE, TEPLITZ, RAFFERTY, FONTANA, FARNESE,
MENSCH, BREWSTER, YUDICHAK, SABATINA, BROOKS AND HUGHES,
JANUARY 21, 2016
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, JANUARY 21, 2016
AN ACT
Amending the act of November 24, 1998 (P.L.882, No.111),
entitled "An act providing for victims' rights; imposing
penalties; establishing remedies; establishing the Office of
Victim Advocate, the Bureau of Victims' Services, the
Victims' Services Advisory Committee, the State Offender
Supervision Fund and other funds; and making repeals," in
administration, further providing for committee.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 321 of the act of November 24, 1998
(P.L.882, No.111), known as the Crime Victims Act, amended
October 30, 2000 (P.L.641, No.86), is amended to read:
Section 321. Committee.
(a) Establishment.--There is established the Victims'
Services Advisory Committee within the commission.
(b) Membership.--The committee shall consist of [15] the
following members:
(1) The Secretary of Aging or a designee.
(2) The Secretary of Corrections or a designee.
(3) The Secretary of [Public Welfare] Human Services or
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a designee.
(4) The Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police or
a designee.
(5) The victim advocate.
(6) A district attorney appointed by the Governor.
(7) [Nine individuals appointed by the Governor.
Members under this paragraph must represent direct victims,
Statewide victims' coalitions, prosecution-based
victim/witness programs and other victim service or victim
advocacy organizations, the courts, members of local
government and other victims' organizations or organizations
involved in the coordination or delivery of services to
direct victims. At least one of the Governor's appointees
must be a representative of a victims' services agency
working directly with children.] The following individuals
appointed by the Governor, each of whom shall represent one
of the following:
(i) A direct victim of crime representing female
victims.
(ii) A direct victim of crime representing male
victims.
(iii) An area agency on aging.
(iv) The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic
Violence.
(v) The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.
(vi) The Pennsylvania Chapter of Children's Advocacy
Centers and Multidisciplinary Teams.
(vii) The Pennsylvania Court Appointed Special
Advocates Association.
(viii) A county children and youth agency.
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(ix) A prosecution-based victim witness program.
(x) A victims' service or advocacy organization.
(xi) The courts.
(xii) County government.
(xiii) A children's advocacy center or victims'
services agency working directly with children.
(xiv) Local law enforcement.
(xv) A mental health treatment provider.
(xvi) A victims' services agency working directly
with victims of human trafficking.
(8) Two residents of this Commonwealth appointed by the
chairman of the commission.
(c) Terms.--A member under subsection (b)(1) through (5)
shall serve ex officio. A member under subsection (b)(6) [or],
(7) or (8) shall serve for a four-year term and may be appointed
for no more than one additional consecutive term.
(d) Restrictions.--The committee and its members are subject
to the same limitations and conditions imposed upon the
commission as prescribed in section 2 of the act of November 22,
1978 (P.L.1166, No.274), referred to as the Pennsylvania
Commission on Crime and Delinquency Law.
(e) Quorum.--A majority of the members shall constitute a
quorum. A vote of the majority of the members present shall be
sufficient for all actions.
(f) Chair.--The Governor shall appoint a chairperson from
among the members of the committee. The chairperson shall serve
at the pleasure of the Governor. A vice chairperson shall be
designated by the chairperson and preside at meetings in the
absence of the chairperson.
(g) Meeting.--The committee shall meet at the call of the
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chair but no fewer than four times a year.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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