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:	June 10, 2022 02:47 PM
From:	Representative Kristine C. Howard
To:	All House members
Subject:	Broadening PFA Orders

Introduced as a tool to protect survivors of domestic violence, over 30,000 Protection from Abuse Orders (PFAs) have been filed or pending each year since 2011.  While our current PFA law is relatively comprehensive, it still fails to protect a broader group of Pennsylvanians who may not be experiencing violence at the hands of an intimate partner, family, or household member, or those who may be experiencing a type of violence not available for protection under the law.   My legislation would address this issue by broadening the eligibility criteria for individuals who would like to file for a PFA against an abuser.  By amending the current definition to no longer specify that only individuals with familial, intimate, or domestic relationships are eligible for a PFA and adding two new PFA-eligible crimes, my bill will allow more survivors to protect themselves against often-overlooked forms of abuse, such as harassment and financial abuse.    As legislators, we must protect and advocate for the safety and security of all Pennsylvanians, not just those facing violence in a domestic or romantic relationship.  Please join me in better protecting Pennsylvanians from abuse.

View Attachment

---