House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

NEW!

Subscribe to receive notifications of new Co-Sponsorship Memos circulated

By Member | By Date | Keyword Search

House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	January 13, 2021 10:42 AM
From:	Representative James B. Struzzi, II
To:	All House members
Subject:	Cody’s Law to Protect Those That Cannot Protect Themselves (Former HB 2056)

In the near future, I intend to reintroduce legislation that amends Section 2702 (relating to aggravated assault) of the Crimes Code to provide that any individual that intentionally causes bodily injury to a person with a physical or intellectual disability is guilty of aggravated assault, a felony of the second degree. The need for this legislation was made abundantly clear after Cody Overdorff, a young man with physical and intellectual disabilities, was ruthlessly lured, attacked and beaten by a group of four people without provocation. While this group was arrested for the assault, they were only charged with misdemeanors as Mr. Overdorff’s injuries did not constitute “serious bodily injury.” I believe that individuals that target vulnerable and helpless victims pose a significant threat to our society and should be subject to harsher penalties under the law. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to help prevent any further acts of violence against individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities and better protect and serve our Commonwealth residents.

---