THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY BAKER, BREWSTER, ERICKSON, FOLMER, FONTANA, ORIE, RAFFERTY, SOLOBAY, TOMLINSON, VANCE, WAUGH AND YUDICHAK, FEBRUARY 9, 2011

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 9, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of November 24, 1998 (P.L.882, No.111),

entitled "An act providing for victims' rights; imposing

penalties; establishing remedies; establishing the Office of

Victim Advocate, the Bureau of Victims' Services, the

Victims' Services Advisory Committee, the State Offender

Supervision Fund and other funds; and making repeals,"

further providing for petitions to deny parole upon

expiration of minimum sentence.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 502(b) of the act of November 24, 1998

(P.L.882, No.111), known as the Crime Victims Act, amended

October 2, 2002 (P.L.839, No.121), is amended to read:

Section 502.  Petitions to deny parole upon expiration of

minimum sentence.

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(b)  Appearance.--The victim or the victim's representative

shall be permitted to appear in person and provide testimony 

before the [board or hearing examiner] person or body making the

parole release decision or, in the alternative, the victim's

testimony may be presented by conference call to the person or

body. The testimony of a victim [before the board] shall be

confidential. Records maintained by the department and the board

pertaining to victims shall be kept separate[. Current] from

other records and these victim records, including current 

address, telephone number and any other personal information of

the victim and family members, shall be deemed confidential.

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.