PRINTER'S NO. 1043
No. 959 Session of 1993
INTRODUCED BY WOGAN, DENT, SCHEETZ, RAYMOND, FARMER, FAIRCHILD,
NAILOR, HECKLER, CESSAR, ARMSTRONG, WOZNIAK, GODSHALL,
HARLEY, ALLEN, ULIANA, GEIST, KENNEY, ROONEY, HANNA, LEE,
CLYMER, GERLACH, CLARK, E. Z. TAYLOR AND BATTISTO,
MARCH 25, 1993
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 25, 1993
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, increasing liability of parents for
3 acts of children.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 5505(a) and (b) of Title 23 of the
7 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
8 § 5505. Monetary limits of liability.
9 (a) General rule.--Liability of the parents under this
10 chapter shall be limited to:
11 (1) The sum of [$300] $1,500 for injuries suffered by
12 any one person as a result of one tortious act or continuous
13 series of tortious acts.
14 (2) The sum of [$1,000] $3,000 regardless of the number
15 of persons who suffer injury as a result of one tortious act
16 or continuous series of tortious acts.
17 (b) Proceedings where loss exceeds liability.--In the event
1 that actual loss as ascertained by the court or the judgment
2 against the child exceeds [$1,000] $3,000, the parents shall be
3 discharged from further liability by the payment of [$1,000]
4 $3,000 into court. The court shall cause all aggrieved parties
5 to submit itemized statements of loss in writing and shall make
6 distribution proportionately, whether the claims be for injuries
7 to the person or for theft, destruction or loss of property. The
8 court may take testimony to assist it in making proper
9 distribution and may appoint a master to accomplish this
10 purpose. All costs and fees incurred in these proceedings shall
11 be paid from the [$1,000] $3,000 paid into court.
12 * * *
13 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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