House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future, I will be re-introducing legislation from the prior legislative session amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses), Section 3926 (Theft of Services) that would expand the definition of "theft of services" to include theft of natural gas and propane from a service provider. Current law only addresses electricity, telecommunications and cable.

Energy diversion is a public safety issue that cuts across classes, individuals, and businesses. Safety hazards may include public exposure to serious injury or death and destruction of public or personal property that could affect an entire neighborhood. This practice is especially a direct threat to our first responders when they enter a home or business that has been wired with devices to divert energy, usually for unlawful purposes.

My legislation would provide additional tools to support legal and punitive measures to combat the dangerous aspects of this crime and the adverse impact on energy rates that often lead to increased costs for paying consumers.

Prior sponsors of this legislation include: BOBACK , CLYMER , D. COSTA, DALEY , DeLUCA , DENLINGER , FLECK , GIBBONS , GOODMAN, GRELL , HALUSKA , HARHART , HENNESSEY, KORTZ , KULA , LONGIETTI , MARSHALL , MILLARD , MILLER , MURT , M. O'BRIEN, PASHINSKI , PETRARCA , READSHAW , SCAVELLO , TALLMAN