1Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, in preemptions, providing for
3protection for victims of crime.

4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:

6Section 1. Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

8§ 303. Protection for victims of crime.

9(a) General rule.--No ordinance enacted by a municipality
10shall penalize a resident or landlord for police or emergency
11assistance if the assistance was requested or dispatched based
12upon the reasonable belief that an individual was in need of
13intervention or emergency assistance.

14(b) Applicability.--The provisions of subsection (a) shall
15apply irrespective of the effective date of the ordinance.

16(c) Remedies.--If a municipality enforces or attempts to
17enforce an ordinance against a resident or landlord in violation
18of subsection (a), the resident or landlord may bring a civil

1action for a violation of this section and seek an order from a
2court of competent jurisdiction for any of the following
3remedies:

4(1) An order requiring the municipality to cease and
5desist the unlawful practice.

6(2) Payment of compensatory damages.

7(3) Payment of punitive damages, not to exceed $1,000
8per violation.

9(4) Payment of reasonable attorney fees.

10(5) Payment of court costs.

11(6) Other relief as the court may deem appropriate.

12(d) Preemption.--This section preempts any inconsistent
13local ordinance or rule.

14(e) Definition.--As used in this section, the term
15"penalize" includes to harass, threaten, harm, damage or
16otherwise retaliate or discriminate, assess fines or to evict or
17cause eviction from leased premises.

18Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.