PRINTER'S NO. 190

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE BILL

No. 188 Session of 1977


        INTRODUCED BY HILL, JUBELIRER, HOWARD, HOLL, SCANLON, SWEENEY
           AND REIBMAN, FEBRUARY 7, 1977

        REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 7, 1977

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
     2     Consolidated Statutes, adding a definition of catastrophe to
     3     the provisions or destruction of property.

     4     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     5  hereby enacts as follows:
     6     Section 1.  Section 3302 of Title 18, act of November 25,
     7  1970 (P.L.707, No.230), known as the Pennsylvania Consolidated
     8  Statutes, is amended by adding a subsection to read:
     9  § 3302.  Causing or risking catastrophe.
    10     * * *
    11     (c)  Catastrophe defined.--Catastrophe means serious bodily
    12  injury to five or more people or substantial damage to five or
    13  more separate habitations, or property loss in excess of
    14  $100,000.
    15     Section 2.  Section 3303 of Title 18 of the act, is amended
    16  to read:
    17  § 3303.  Failure to prevent catastrophe.
    18     A person who knowingly or recklessly fails to take reasonable


     1  measures to prevent or mitigate a catastrophe as defined in
     2  section 3302(c) (relating to causing or risking catastrophe),
     3  when he can do so without substantial risk to himself, commits a
     4  misdemeanor of the second degree if:
     5         (1)  he knows that he is under an official, contractual
     6     or other legal duty to take such measures; or
     7         (2)  he did or assented to the act causing or threatening
     8     the catastrophe.
     9     Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.














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