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PRINTER'S NO. 1657
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1365
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY MURT, SCHLOSSBERG, KINSEY, FRANKEL, HILL-EVANS,
KIRKLAND, STEPHENS, COMITTA, ISAACSON AND DALEY, MAY 1, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MAY 1, 2019
AN ACT
Establishing the Gun Violence Task Force Pilot Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Gun Violence
Task Force Pilot Program Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"County." Allegheny County, Dauphin County or Lehigh County.
"Office." The Office of Attorney General of the
Commonwealth.
"Pilot program." The Gun Violence Task Force Pilot Program
established under section 3.
"Task force." The task force of each county participating in
the pilot program.
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Section 3. Establishment.
(a) Pilot program.--The Gun Violence Task Force Pilot
Program is established within the office.
(b) Locations.--The pilot program shall be available in a
county if approved by the county commissioners for the
individual county.
(c) Program goals.--The pilot program, in conjunction with
the office shall have the following goals:
(1) Address gun violence in targeted cities, including
Allentown, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.
(2) Investigate and prosecute firearm violations.
Section 4. Approval by county commissioners.
The county commissioners of each county may pass a resolution
by majority vote to join the pilot program. Upon passage of the
resolution, the office shall be notified of the approval.
Section 5. Pilot program.
The pilot program in each county, under the guidance of the
office shall handle the following types of cases:
(1) Violations of the Pennsylvania Instant Check System,
which provides instant access to background records on an
individual to determine if the individual is eligible to
acquire a firearm or license to carry a firearm.
(2) Straw purchases of a firearm.
(3) Street sales of firearms, illegal lending and other
transfers of guns that do not comply with Federal and State
law.
(4) Cases where firearms are used in violent crimes
throughout each county. In partnership with Federal, State
and local law enforcement agencies, the task force may arrest
individuals responsible for murders, shootings and gunpoint
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robberies.
Section 6. Task force members.
(a) Members.--In each county that approves the pilot
program, the following individuals shall be appointed by the
county commissioners to the task force:
(1) Two investigators with a police department located
within a targeted city.
(2) Two investigators with a police department located
within each county and outside of a targeted city.
(3) Two criminal analysts with at least 10 years of
experience or education who live in each county.
(4) Three assistant district attorneys who serve each
county with at least 10 years of experience with prosecuting
criminal cases, at least one of which must serve in a target
city.
(b) Compensation.--Each member of the task force who is not
otherwise an officer or employee of the Commonwealth shall
receive reimbursement for expenses incurred and per diem
compensation at a rate to be set by the office when actually
engaged in official meetings or otherwise in the performance of
official duties as directed by the task force.
Section 7. Evaluation and renewal or termination.
(a) Evaluation.--Within six months after the approval of the
pilot program and every six months thereafter, the county
commissioners of each county shall consult with the office to
evaluate the pilot program's impact on the county.
(b) Renewal of pilot program.--Within two years of the
initial approval of the pilot program and after consultation
with the Attorney General, the county commissioner of each
county shall either:
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(1) Approve the continuation of the pilot program.
(2) Terminate the pilot program.
(c) Expiration without renewal.--The pilot program shall
expire two years after the approval date of the pilot program
unless the county commissioners of each county pass a resolution
continuing the program.
Section 8. Reports.
(a) Annual reports.--The county commissioners for each
county that approved the pilot program, in conjunction with the
office, shall submit a report to the General Assembly one year
after the implementation of the pilot program and each year
thereafter.
(b) Substance of report.--Each report shall contain at least
the following:
(1) The relevant gun violence statistics by county and
city for the year or years prior to the implementation of the
pilot program.
(2) The relevant gun violence statistics by county and
city for the year or years since the implementation of the
pilot program.
(3) The changes implemented in accordance with the pilot
program.
(4) Any other information required by the General
Assembly or deemed relevant by the county commissioners or
the office.
Section 9. Limitation.
This act does not prohibit, impair or impact any current task
forces in a city of the first class.
Section 10. Repeals.
All acts and parts of acts are repealed insofar as they are
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inconsistent with the provisions of this act.
Section 11. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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