PRINTER'S NO. 639

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 53 Session of 1995


        INTRODUCED BY GAMBLE, E. Z. TAYLOR, TRELLO, MERRY, BELARDI,
           FARGO, TIGUE, RAYMOND, VAN HORNE, LEH, BATTISTO, CARONE, COY,
           M. N. WRIGHT, McCALL, HENNESSEY, STABACK, SATHER, CORRIGAN,
           BROWNE, MELIO, DiGIROLAMO, LAUGHLIN, PESCI, STEELMAN, CURRY,
           BOSCOLA, HALUSKA, PETRARCA, WALKO AND YOUNGBLOOD,
           FEBRUARY 7, 1995

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 7, 1995

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
     2     Consolidated Statutes, further providing for contempt for
     3     noncompliance with support order.

     4     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     5  hereby enacts as follows:
     6     Section 1.  Section 4345 of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania
     7  Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
     8  § 4345.  Contempt for noncompliance with support order.
     9     [(a)  General rule.--]A person who willfully fails to comply
    10  with any order under this chapter, except an order subject to
    11  section 4344 (relating to contempt for failure of obligor to
    12  appear), may, as prescribed by general rule, be adjudged in
    13  contempt. Contempt [shall be punishable by any one or more of
    14  the following:
    15         (1)  Imprisonment for a period not to exceed six months.
    16         (2)  A fine not to exceed $500.


     1         (3)  Probation for a period not to exceed six months.
     2     (b)  Condition for release.--An order committing a defendant
     3  to jail under this section shall specify the condition the
     4  fulfillment of which will result in the release of the obligor]
     5  where the court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of an
     6  obligor shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $15,000,
     7  or imprisonment for not more than seven years, or both.
     8     Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.















    A26L23WMB/19950H0053B0639        - 2 -