SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 113
PRINTER'S NO. 4251
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
149
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY KNOWLES, SIMMONS, SCHLOSSBERG, ROZZI, ZIMMERMAN,
V. BROWN, READSHAW, DRISCOLL, A. HARRIS, WARD, BOBACK,
KAUFFMAN, ORTITAY, B. MILLER, GILLEN, PICKETT, GABLER,
McGINNIS, SOLOMON, KORTZ, DAVIS, BARBIN AND JOZWIAK,
JANUARY 23, 2017
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, IN SENATE, OCTOBER 15, 2018
AN ACT
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in obstructing governmental
operations, providing for unlawful use of an audio or video
device in court.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 5103.1. Unlawful use of an audio or video device in court.
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits a misdemeanor of the
second degree AN OFFENSE if the person in any manner and for any
purpose uses or operates a device to capture, record, transmit
or broadcast a photograph, video, motion picture or audio of a
proceeding or person within a hearing room, courtroom JUDICIAL
FACILITY or the environs of a hearing room or courtroom IN AN
AREA ADJACENT TO OR IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING A JUDICIAL FACILITY
without the approval of the court or presiding judicial officer
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or except as provided by rules of court.
(B) GRADING.--
(1) AN OFFENSE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL CONSTITUTE A
MISDEMEANOR OF THE SECOND DEGREE.
(2) A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE SHALL CONSTITUTE A
MISDEMEANOR OF THE FIRST DEGREE.
(b) (C) Definition.--As used in this section, the term
"environs" means the area immediately surrounding any entrance
or exit. "JUDICIAL FACILITY" MEANS A COURTROOM, HEARING ROOM OR
JUDICIAL CHAMBERS USED BY THE COURT TO CONDUCT TRIALS OR
HEARINGS OR ANY OTHER COURT-RELATED BUSINESS OR ANY OTHER ROOM
MADE AVAILABLE TO INTERVIEW WITNESSES. THE TERM DOES NOT INCLUDE
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE CAPITOL BUILDING EXCEPT FOR THAT PORTION
OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE CAPITOL BUILDING DESIGNATED BY THE
COURT ADMINISTRATOR OF PENNSYLVANIA, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE
SUPREME COURT, AS A JUDICIAL FACILITY.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20170HB0149PN4251 - 2 -
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