See other bills
under the
same topic
PRINTER'S NO. 2442
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1798
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY KIM, SOLOMON, MURT, ULLMAN, FIEDLER, SCHLOSSBERG,
HILL-EVANS, KINSEY, CALTAGIRONE, MADDEN, FREEMAN, JOHNSON-
HARRELL, OTTEN, BULLOCK, FRANKEL, FITZGERALD, SANCHEZ,
SCHWEYER, McCLINTON, LEE, GALLOWAY, HOHENSTEIN AND ISAACSON,
SEPTEMBER 12, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2019
AN ACT
Amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions relating
to inmate confinement, further providing for healthy birth
for incarcerated women.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 5905 of Title 61 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subsection to read:
§ 5905. Healthy birth for incarcerated women.
* * *
(a.1) Alternative housing.--
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or
correctional institution regulation to the contrary, the
correctional institution shall establish an internal family-
centered housing unit for incarcerated individuals and
detainees in the custody of the correctional institution who
deliver an infant upon discharge from medical facilities that
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
assist with the delivery.
(2) An incarcerated individual or detainee is eligible
for alternative housing under this section if the
incarcerated individual or detainee:
(i) Is incarcerated for an offense that is not a
crime of violence as defined under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9714(g)
(relating to sentences for second and subsequent
offenses).
(ii) Meets the health, mental health and safety
requirements for placement outside of a correctional
institution as determined by the correctional
institution.
(3) An eligible incarcerated individual or detainee
shall be permitted to live with the infant in the alternative
housing facility for a period of 18 months from the eligible
incarcerated individual's or detainee's discharge from a
medical facility.
(4) The correctional institution shall:
(i) Provide appropriate child care for the infant
during participation by an incarcerated individual or
detainee in required treatment, programs, classes and
work assignments.
(ii) Provide access to appropriate postnatal care
for the incarcerated individual or detainee and infant.
(iii) Support mother-infant bonding.
(5) The correctional institution shall promulgate rules
and regulations necessary to implement this subsection.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in one year.
20190HB1798PN2442 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29