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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 3, 2018 07:34 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Sheryl M. Delozier |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Marsy’s Law |
| Immediately upon the commencement of the new legislative session, I plan to reintroduce my joint resolution to add a victims’ bill of rights to the Pennsylvania Constitution. SB 1011, the companion to my bill, passed the House and the Senate unanimously last session. As a proposed constitutional amendment, the legislation must pass both chambers in identical form, in consecutive legislative sessions before being put on the ballot as a referendum. I am asking you to help me finish what we started in 2018. The proposed constitutional amendment, known nationally as “Marsy’s Law,” is the only way to ensure that victims enjoy equal footing with offenders, and the only way to ensure that victims have some kind of redress when their rights are violated. A crime victims’ bill of rights will require that the Commonwealth protect the rights of victims no less vigorously than the rights of the accused. It will require notice of hearings and other proceedings, physical and emotional protection from the accused, notice to the victim in cases of release or escape, proceedings free from unnecessary delay, the ability to confer with the prosecutor in the case, and full and timely restitution from the offender. Please join me in sponsoring this critically important joint resolution. |
Introduced as HB276