PRINTER'S NO. 1530
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
1179
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY BAKER, AUMENT, PHILLIPS-HILL, MARTIN, COLLETT AND
KANE, APRIL 1, 2022
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, APRIL 1, 2022
AN ACT
Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in domestic and sexual violence victim
address confidentiality, further providing for definitions,
for persons eligible to apply and for application and
certification process.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 6702 of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:
§ 6702. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Victim of child abduction." A victim of an offense that is:
(1) enumerated in 18 Pa.C.S. § 2904 (relating to
interference with custody of children); and
(2) graded as a felony.
* * *
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
"Victim of human trafficking." A victim of an offense
enumerated in either 18 Pa.C.S. § 3011 (relating to trafficking
in individuals) or 3012 (relating to involuntary servitude).
* * *
Section 2. Section 6704 of Title 23 is amended by adding
paragraphs to read:
§ 6704. Persons eligible to apply.
The following persons shall be eligible to apply to become
program participants:
* * *
(6) A victim of child abduction who files an affidavit
with the Office of Victim Advocate describing the
perpetrator's course of conduct or repeated actions toward
the affiant meeting the criteria enumerated in 18 Pa.C.S. §
2904 (relating to interference with custody of children) that
is graded as a felony and further stating that the affiant
fears future violent acts by the perpetrator of the child
abduction.
(7) A victim of human trafficking who files an affidavit
with the Office of Victim Advocate describing the
perpetrator's course of conduct or repeated actions toward
the affiant meeting the criteria enumerated in either 18
Pa.C.S. § 3011 (relating to trafficking in individuals) or
3012 (relating to involuntary servitude) and further stating
that the affiant fears future violent acts by the perpetrator
of the human trafficking.
Section 3. Section 6705(a) of Title 23 is amended to read:
§ 6705. Application and certification process.
(a) General rule.--A person must file an application with
the Office of Victim Advocate on a form prescribed by the Office
20220SB1179PN1530 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
of Victim Advocate. A n application and any supporting
documentation may be filed electronically, by mail or in person.
The Office of Victim Advocate shall certify eligible applicants
as program participants in accordance with the procedures
outlined in subsection (b). Certification shall be valid for a
period of three years following the date of certification unless
the certification is withdrawn or canceled before the expiration
of that period.
* * *
Section 4. The Office of Victim Advocate may promulgate
regulations to effectuate the following:
(1) The addition of the definitions of "victim of child
abduction" and "victim of human trafficking" in 23 Pa.C.S. §
6702.
(2) The amendment or addition of 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6704(6)
and (7) and 6705(a).
Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20220SB1179PN1530 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17