An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in obstructing governmental operations, further providing for obstructing administration of law or other governmental function.
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Create an account to take a stance, submit a written position, or contact your legislator.
Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill amends Pennsylvania law to clarify and expand the definition of ‘obstructing administration of law or other governmental function.’ Specifically, it outlines exceptions for health care facilities, allowing them to deny entry to law enforcement officers unless the officers have probable cause and a judicial warrant. The bill also defines key terms related to this obstruction, such as ‘emergency department,’ ‘health care facility,’ and ‘judicial warrant.’
Key provisions
- Expands the definition of ‘obstructing administration of law’ to include various unlawful acts.
- Creates an exception for health care facilities to deny entry to law enforcement officers with probable cause and a judicial warrant.
- Defines ‘emergency department’ as a specific entity within a hospital.
- Defines ‘health care facility’ using the existing definition from 35 Pa.C.S. § 3302.
- Defines ‘judicial warrant’ as a written order from a court directing an arrest.
- Defines ‘law enforcement officer’ to include Pennsylvania State Police, certified employees, and federal agency personnel.
- Specifies that the exception does not apply to flight from arrest or refusal to submit to arrest.
- Sets a 60-day effective date for the act.
Who is affected
- Law enforcement officers
- Health care facilities (including hospitals and emergency departments)
- Patients and visitors of health care facilities
Bill text
Read the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
Document of record
- Version
- Pn 3002 Html
- Published
- Not published in the source record
This version is published only as a document. Open the viewer to read it here, or download the file.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
9 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Benjamin Sanchez
Arguments
Reasons offered for and against this legislation.
Arguments in favor
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yours