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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 13, 2012 11:16 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Bernie O'Neill |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Contraband in Correction Facilities (Previous HB 1474) |
| I plan to re-introduce legislation which will amend the Crimes Code (Title 18) to expand the scope of what is considered “contraband” in state and county correctional facilities. Under current law (Section 5123), it is a 3rd degree felony to sell or give an unauthorized controlled substance to a prisoner; and a 1st degree misdemeanor to furnish a prisoner with other material which is deemed to be contraband. Contraband currently includes any kind of “spirituous or fermented liquor, medicine or poison”, and the section also prohibits the furnishing of any telecommunication device to a prisoner. My bill will establish that any item designated by the Secretary of Corrections or the correctional facility manager as contraband would be prohibited. This change will allow the designation of cigarettes as contraband, addressing an immediate concern conveyed to us by prison administrators in our areas. The amendment will also provide administrators with flexibility in the future, allowing them to make determinations on prohibited items with the health and safety of prisoners and prison employees in mind. If you have any questions on this legislation, please by contacting Connie McClure in my Harrisburg office at 705-7170 or e-mailing cmcclure@pahousegop.com. Thank you for your consideration and support of this very important piece of legislation. |
Introduced as HB271