PRINTER'S NO. 2562
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1859
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY DELLOSO, BARRAR, KENYATTA, McNEILL, JOHNSON-
HARRELL, CALTAGIRONE, READSHAW, CIRESI, OTTEN AND McCLINTON,
SEPTEMBER 23, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019
AN ACT
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in other offenses, providing for the
offense of failure to report death.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 7518. Failure to report death.
(a) Offense defined.--Except as provided in subsection (b),
a person is guilty of a summary offense if, upon witnessing the
death of an individual or discovering the body of an individual
the person knows or reasonably believes is dead, the person
fails to, in the most expeditious manner possible, notify a 911
system, physician or other medical professional, law enforcement
agency or funeral home.
(b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply:
(1) If the person knows or reasonably believes that a
911 system, physician or other medical professional, law
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enforcement agency or funeral home has been notified of the
death of the individual or discovery of the body of the
individual.
(2) To the following:
(i) A child under 14 years of age.
(ii) An individual with an intellectual disability
acting under the direction of their parent, an individual
residing in the same household or an individual
responsible for their welfare.
(c) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "funeral
home" shall have the same meaning as "funeral establishment" in
section 2(6) of the act of January 14, 1952 (1951 P.L.1898,
No.522), known as the Funeral Director Law.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20190HB1859PN2562 - 2 -
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