PRINTER'S NO. 3397

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

223

Session of

2022

INTRODUCED BY ZABEL, MADDEN, RABB, SANCHEZ, KRAJEWSKI,

HOHENSTEIN, SCHLOSSBERG, DELLOSO, HOWARD, WARREN, KINKEAD AND

D. WILLIAMS, JULY 28, 2022

and to make recommendations to the General Assembly.

WHEREAS, In 1972, the Pennsylvania legislature enacted the

Crimes Code in Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

Statutes, which contained 282 carefully considered offenses and

suboffenses; and

WHEREAS, Since the Crimes Code's enactment, it has expanded

more than fivefold and now contains more than 1,500 offenses and

suboffenses, the majority of which were created without a

thorough review of the entire Crimes Code; and

WHEREAS, According to a 2009 report on offense grading

differences, and offense grades that seriously conflict with the

values of Pennsylvania residents" in addition to various

overlapping and duplicative offenses; and

WHEREAS, The addition of numerous new offenses and changes to

the Crimes Code since the publication of the 2009 report has

only exacerbated the issues identified in the report; and

WHEREAS, A rational crimes code with offenses that coincide

with the views of the residents of this Commonwealth is

necessary for public trust in the laws of this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, The ever-increasing size and scope of the Crimes

which is to provide the public with a clear and comprehensible

list of prohibited activities and their punishments; and

WHEREAS, A cohesive and rational crimes code is advantageous

for the residents of this Commonwealth and every constituency

working within the criminal justice process as it would serve to

reduce confusion and provide a fair and consistent approach to

crime and punishment; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly should be knowledgeable about

the state and nature of the Crimes Code and aware of any

oversights, deficiencies and redundancies within the Code that

order to identify redundant, overlapping and inconsistent

offenses, improper grading and gaps in criminal liability, and

to make recommendations to the General Assembly; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the task force consist of two members of the

Senate, one appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate

and one appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, and two

members of the House of Representatives, one appointed by the

Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the

Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and be it

appointed by the Governor with the consent and approval of the

task force, comprised of representatives from the Office of

Attorney General, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and

Delinquency, the Pennsylvania Public Defenders Association, the

Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, the judiciary, law

enforcement agencies, private and public organizations involved

in criminal justice issues and additional members as the task

force deems appropriate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the task force and advisory committee shall:

regarding changes in statute to remedy any defects,

redundancies and shortcomings;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the task force report its findings and

recommendations to the House of Representatives within one year

of the adoption of this resolution.