House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

Posted:	January 15, 2021 03:13 PM
From:	Representative Jack Rader, Jr.
To:	All House members
Subject:	Statute of Limitations for Drug Delivery Resulting in Death

In an effort to combat drug use and drug-related deaths in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I am introducing legislation that would strengthen the penalties for drug dealing. Specifically, my proposal would amend Title 42 by setting the statute of limitations at 5 years for the crime of drug delivery resulting in death. Drug addiction is devastating our state. We cannot let the number of lives struggling with substance abuse continue to grow; it is time to hold those who are creating this epidemic to a higher level of social responsibility by providing the police and prosecutors with every tool possible to fight this scourge. This crime was previously covered under the 5 year statute of limitations, however, a change in the language inadvertently removed drug delivery resulting in death from the 5 year status and now the 2-year statute of limitations applies due to default. This bill would take a significant step forward in our state’s response to this crisis, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation right away so that we can take action and save lives in Pennsylvania.
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Introduced as HB553