Posted: | March 18, 2019 09:47 AM |
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From: | Representative Wendi Thomas |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act |
In the very near future, I will introduce legislation to amend the Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act to close a loophole in the Act relating to sexual offenses committed by public officials and employees. Currently, the Act provides that pension forfeiture will occur if any of the sexual offenses found in 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 31 (rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, institutional sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, as examples) are committed against a student by a school employee. This language, however, does not apply to any other public official or employee or to any other victim. For example, the language does not apply to daycare workers or employees of a youth detention center, both of whom take care of the Commonwealth’s children. My legislation will close this loophole. If, for example, a daycare worker uses the position to molest children, the daycare worker will forfeit his or her pension. If an employee of a youth detention center rapes a child committed to his or her care, the employee will forfeit his or her pension. Just as under current law, in order for forfeiture to occur, there must be a connection between the public office or employment and the sexual offense committed. Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB991