1Amending the act of November 24, 1998 (P.L.882, No.111),
2entitled "An act providing for victims' rights; imposing
3penalties; establishing remedies; establishing the Office of
4Victim Advocate, the Bureau of Victims' Services, the
5Victims' Services Advisory Committee, the State Offender
6Supervision Fund and other funds; and making repeals,"
7further providing for petitions to deny parole upon
8expiration of minimum sentence.

9The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10hereby enacts as follows:

11Section 1. Section 502(b) of the act of November 24, 1998
12(P.L.882, No.111), known as the Crime Victims Act, amended
13October 2, 2002 (P.L.839, No.121), is amended to read:

14Section 502. Petitions to deny parole upon expiration of
15minimum sentence.

16* * *

17(b) Appearance.--The victim or the victim's representative
18shall be permitted to appear in person and provide testimony
19before the [board or hearing examiner] <-person or body panel or 
20the majority of those board members charged with making the 

1parole release decision or, in the alternative, the <-victim's or 
2the victim's <-representative's testimony may be presented by
3[conference call] to the person or body elect<-ronic means as 
4provided by the board. The testimony of a victim [before the
5board] <-or a victim's representative shall be confidential.
6Records maintained by the department and the board pertaining to
7victims shall be kept separate[. Current] from other records and 
8these victim records, including current address, telephone
9number and any other personal information of the victim and
10family members, shall be deemed confidential.

11* * *

12Section 2. This act shall take effect <-immediately September 
131, 2013, or immediately, whichever is later.