Bill Text: PA SB246 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: In assault, further providing for probable cause arrests in domestic violence cases; and, in protection from abuse, providing for an electronic monitoring program.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 5-3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-02-19 - Referred to JUDICIARY [SB246 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-SB246-Introduced.html

  

 

    

PRINTER'S NO.  250

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE BILL

 

No.

246

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY GORDNER, WASHINGTON, BROWNE, ORIE, RAFFERTY, STACK, O'PAKE AND ALLOWAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2009

  

  

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 19, 2009  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 23 (Domestic

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Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in

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assault, further providing for probable cause arrests in

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domestic violence cases; and, in protection from abuse,

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providing for an electronic monitoring program.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Section 2711(c) of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania

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Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

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§ 2711.  Probable cause arrests in domestic violence cases.

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* * *

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(c)  Bail.--

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(1)  A defendant arrested pursuant to this section shall

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be afforded a preliminary arraignment by the proper issuing

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authority without unnecessary delay. In no case shall the

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arresting officer release the defendant from custody rather

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than taking the defendant before the issuing authority.

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(2)  In determining whether to admit the defendant to

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bail, the issuing authority shall consider whether the

 


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defendant poses a threat of danger to the victim. If the

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issuing authority makes such a determination, it shall

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require as a condition of bail that the defendant shall

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refrain from entering the residence or household of the

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victim and the victim's place of employment and shall refrain

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from committing any further criminal conduct against the

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victim and shall so notify the defendant thereof at the time

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the defendant is admitted to bail. [Such condition]

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(3)  As a further condition of bail, the issuing

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authority may order the defendant to participate in an

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electronic monitoring program as set forth in 23 Pa.C.S. §

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6114.2 (relating to electronic monitoring program) and to pay

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the costs associated with participation in the program.

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(4)  The conditions of bail under this subsection shall

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expire at the time of the preliminary hearing or upon the

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entry or the denial of the protection of abuse order by the

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court, whichever occurs first. A violation of [this] any 

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condition of bail under this subsection may be punishable by

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the revocation of any form of pretrial release or the

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forfeiture of bail and the issuance of a bench warrant for

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the defendant's arrest or remanding him to custody or a

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modification of the terms of the bail. The defendant shall be

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provided a hearing on this matter.

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* * *

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Section 2.  Title 23 is amended by adding a section to read:

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§ 6114.2.  Electronic monitoring program.

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(a)  Participation in program.--

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(1)  Whenever the court issues a protection order or a

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court-approved consent agreement under this chapter, it may

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order the defendant to participate in and pay the costs of an

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electronic monitoring program authorized by this section.

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(2)  Whenever a defendant is found to have violated a

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protection order issued under this chapter, a foreign

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protection order or a court-approved consent agreement, the

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court shall, in addition to the penalties otherwise provided

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by law, order the defendant to participate in an electronic

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monitoring program authorized by this section until further

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order of the court.

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(b)  Consent of protected person required.--The court shall

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not order electronic monitoring without the consent of the

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protected person.

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(c)  Program requirements.--An electronic monitoring program

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shall:

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(1)  Alert the protected person and the appropriate law

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enforcement unit when the defendant is on or near any

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protected person or premises.

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(2)  Require the defendant to wear an electronic

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monitoring device at all times.

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(3)  Require that a device be placed in the home of the

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defendant so that compliance with the court's order may be

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monitored.

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(d)  Administration.--When a court orders a defendant to

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participate in an electronic monitoring program under this

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section, it shall:

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(1)  Place the defendant under the supervision of the

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county office of probation and parole for the purposes of

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monitoring the device.

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(2)  Order the county office of probation and parole to

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place an electronic monitoring device on the defendant and

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install electronic monitoring equipment in the residence of

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the defendant within 24 hours.

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(3)  Order the county office of probation and parole to

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place an electronic monitoring device on the protected person

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or install electronic monitoring equipment at any protected

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premises, or both.

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(4)  Order the defendant to pay the costs associated with

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the program to the county department of probation and parole

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or program provider.

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(e)  Program provider.--The county department of probation

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and parole may provide the electronic monitoring program

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authorized by this section either directly or by contract with a

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private provider.

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Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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