PRINTER'S NO. 1199
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
970
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY WARD, TEPLITZ, RAFFERTY, MENSCH, VULAKOVICH AND
YUDICHAK, AUGUST 7, 2015
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, AUGUST 7, 2015
AN ACT
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in culpability, providing for failure
to report violent offense by witnesses; and imposing a
penalty.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 306.1. Failure to report violent offense by witnesses.
(a) General rule.--A person who witnesses the actual
commission of a violent offense shall, to the extent that the
person can do so without danger to himself or others, report the
violent offense to law enforcement as soon as reasonably
possible.
(b) Method of notification.--The duty to notify under this
section is met if a person notifies or attempts to provide law
enforcement the notice by telephone or any other means as soon
as reasonably possible.
(c) Penalty.--A person who fails to provide notification as
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required by subsection (a) commits a misdemeanor of the third
degree.
(d) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "violent
offense" means any of the following:
(1) Murder of the first, second or third degree.
(2) Voluntary manslaughter.
(3) Aggravated assault as defined in section 2702(a)(1)
or (2) (relating to aggravated assault).
(4) Rape.
(5) Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.
(6) Aggravated indecent assault.
(7) Incest.
(8) Sexual assault.
(9) Arson as defined in section 3301(a) (relating to
arson and related offenses).
(10) Kidnapping.
(11) Burglary as defined in section 3502 (relating to
burglary).
(12) An attempt, conspiracy or solicitation to commit
any of the offenses listed in this subsection.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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