Test Drive Our New Site! We have some improvements in the works that we're excited for you to experience. Click here to try our new, faster, mobile friendly beta site. We will be maintaining our current version of the site thru the end of 2024, so you can switch back as our improvements continue.
Legislation Quick Search
10/11/2024 10:07 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20230&cosponId=39212
Share:
Home / Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Subscribe to PaLegis Notifications
NEW!

Subscribe to receive notifications of new Co-Sponsorship Memos circulated

By Member | By Date | Keyword Search


Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: January 10, 2023 01:28 PM
From: Senator Frank A. Farry
To: All Senate members
Subject: Emergency Protection From Abuse (PFA) Orders
 
In the near future, I intend to reintroduce legislation that would allow local courts to extend the time period for the expiration of emergency PFA relief.

Under current law, victims of domestic abuse may seek emergency relief from a Magisterial District Judge after regular business hours.  The emergency relief, however, expires at the close of the next business day when the Court of Common Pleas is available.  Although the Courts of Common Pleas are open during weekdays, they often schedule PFA hearings for specific days of the week.  Presently, in order to maintain emergency relief, the domestic violence victim must return to court multiple times until a final hearing occurs in the Court of Common Pleas.

My legislation would allow the Court of Common Pleas to adopt a rule to extend the time period for emergency orders.  Under the bill, instead of expiring at the end of the next business day, emergency relief would expire upon the commencement of a hearing in the Court of Common Pleas within 10 business days.  A petitioner may still request a temporary order from the Common Pleas Court at any time prior to the final hearing.

I believe strongly that this bill would help better facilitate protection orders from abuse for domestic violence victims in communities all throughout the Commonwealth and further build upon the successful efforts we have had in protecting these victims.

Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation.
 




Introduced as SB266


Memo Updated: January 10, 2023 01:29 PM