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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 4, 2012 10:31 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Richard L. Alloway, II |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Changes to the Protection from Abuse Act |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to amend Title 23 PA C.S. Ch. 61, Protection from Abuse. Current legislation only allows a victim of abuse to file a Protection from Abuse (PFA) against an intimate partner or family member. Examples of relationships that qualify as family and household members for the purposes of the PFA Act include: spouses and ex-spouses; persons who have lived as spouses; parents and children; persons related by blood or marriage; including siblings, current or former sexual or intimate partners, which may include dating relationships and same sex couples. Currently in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Protection from Abuse Act (PFA) does not cover abuse by a stranger or a roommate. I am introducing legislation that would make changes to the Protection from Abuse Act so that Protection orders would not just focus on intimate relationships, but on any violent, forceful or threatening behavior that results in injury or places an individual at reasonable risk of death, sexual assault or injury - regardless of the relationship. Examples include: forceful detention, stalking, criminal sexual assault or any criminal offense that results in injury to the body that makes on fear death, sexual assault or physical injury. The proposed legislation will expand the protection order process to nearly anyone who alleges abuse or threats of violence. |