THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY DePASQUALE, BELFANTI, M. O'BRIEN, SIPTROTH, VULAKOVICH, GEIST, GROVE, GINGRICH, MILLER, O'NEILL, MURT, READSHAW, DALEY, SWANGER, GILLESPIE AND K. SMITH, FEBRUARY 16, 2010

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 16, 2010  

AN ACT

Requiring the Department of Corrections to establish a K-9

Contraband Cell Phone Detection Program in each of the State

correctional institutions.

The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1)  The possession of illegal cell phones by inmates

poses a serious and imminent danger to the general public by

allowing prisoners to continue criminal enterprises while

incarcerated.

(2)  Reports show that illegal activities, including

crimes against witnesses, have been orchestrated by

imprisoned individuals with access to contraband cell phones.

(3)  Since initiating its K-9 Cell Phone Detection Unit,

Maryland has had high rates of success discovering and

removing illegal cell phones from prisons.

(4)  Other states, including New Jersey and Virginia,

have initiated K-9 Cell Phone Detection Programs as a way of

eradicating the possession and use of contraband cell phones

by inmates in state prisons.

(5)  Since initiating the use of a cell-phone-detecting

K-9 in its prisons, the City of Philadelphia has had higher

rates of success than using guards or metal detectors to find

illegal cell phones.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Purpose.

The purpose of this act is to establish a K-9 Contraband Cell

Phone Detection Program in order to eliminate the trafficking of

cell phones in State correctional institutions and to protect

the public and to prevent the continuation of criminal

enterprises during incarceration.

Section 2.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Accounts."  The Special Leadership Account (D) of the House

of Representatives or any other account that is used by the

House of Representatives for the same purpose.

"Department."  The Department of Corrections of the

Commonwealth.

"House."  The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth.

Section 3.  Rules and regulations.

The department shall establish and administer a K-9

Contraband Cell Phone Detection Program in each of the State

correctional institutions. The department shall promulgate rules

and regulations relating to the creation and administration of

the program, however, program guidelines shall follow those

established by the Division of Corrections of the State of

Maryland.

Section 4.  Program funding.

Funding for the creation, administration and operations of

the Department of Corrections K-9 Contraband Cell Phone

Detection Program shall be provided by the Special Leadership

Account (D) of the House of Representatives or any other account

that is used by the House of Representatives for the same

purpose.

Section 5.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.