An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of neglect of care-dependent person and for the offense of abuse of care-dependent person; and, in sexual offenses, further providing for the offense of institutional sexual assault.
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill amends Pennsylvania’s criminal code to clarify and potentially increase penalties for offenses involving the neglect and abuse of care-dependent persons. Specifically, it updates penalties for neglect and abuse under existing statutes, and introduces a new felony offense for institutional sexual assault involving caretakers of care-dependent individuals in facilities. The changes aim to strengthen protections for vulnerable individuals.
Key provisions
- Increases the penalty for neglect of a care-dependent person to a felony of the third degree if the victim suffers bodily injury.
- Increases the penalty for abuse of a care-dependent person to a felony of the third degree if the victim suffers bodily injury.
- Establishes a felony of the second degree for neglect of a care-dependent person when there is a course of conduct endangering the person's welfare.
- Creates a felony of the second degree for institutional sexual assault by a caretaker of a care-dependent person receiving care in a facility.
- Specifies that the offense of institutional sexual assault applies to sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, or indecent contact.
- Defines ‘caretaker’ in the context of institutional sexual assault.
- Sets a 60-day period for the act to take effect.
Who is affected
- Care-dependent persons
- Caregivers and caretakers
Bill text
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Document of record
- Version
- Pn 1883 Html
- Published
- Not published in the source record
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Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
9 on record
Primary sponsor
Lynda Schlegel Culver
Cosponsors
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