Pennsylvania HB 1454: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in judicial boards and commissions, further providing for powers and duties of commission, providing for adoption of guidelines for bail and pretrial release conditions and further providing for publication of guidelines for sentencing, resentencing and parole, risk assessment instrument and recommitment ranges following revocation.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1702
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1454
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BONNER, STAATS, ZIMMERMAN, CIRESI AND GILLEN,
MAY 13, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MAY 13, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in judicial boards and
commissions, further providing for powers and duties of
commission, providing for adoption of guidelines for bail and
pretrial release conditions and further providing for
publication of guidelines for sentencing, resentencing and
parole, risk assessment instrument and recommitment ranges
following revocation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2153(a)(7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12),
(13) and (16)(i) and (v) introductory paragraph of Title 42 of
the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended and paragraph
(14) is amended by adding a subparagraph to read:
§ 2153. Powers and duties of commission.
(a) Powers and duties.--The commission, in accordance with
the rules and regulations of the commission, shall have the
powers to:
* * *
(7) Establish a research and development program within
the commission for the purpose of:
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(i) Serving as a clearinghouse and information
center for the collection, preparation and dissemination
of information on Commonwealth sentencing, resentencing
[and], parole and bail practices.
(ii) Assisting and serving in a consulting capacity
to the board, State courts, departments and agencies in
the development, maintenance and coordination of sound
sentencing, resentencing [and], parole and bail
practices.
(8) Collect systematically the data obtained from
studies, research and the empirical experience of public and
private agencies concerning the sentencing and bail
processes.
(9) Publish data concerning the sentencing [and], parole
and bail processes.
(10) Collect systematically and disseminate information
concerning parole dispositions [and], sentences actually
imposed and bail and pretrial release conditions set,
including initial sentences and any subsequent modification
of sentences or resentences following revocation or remand,
and parole and reparole decisions by the board and any other
parole authority.
(11) Collect systematically and disseminate information
regarding effectiveness of parole dispositions [and],
sentences imposed and bail and pretrial release conditions
set.
(12) Make recommendations to the General Assembly
concerning modification or enactment of sentencing, parole
[and], bail and correctional statutes which the commission
finds to be necessary and advisable to carry out an
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effective, humane and rational sentencing, resentencing, bail
and parole policy.
(13) Establish a plan and timetable to collect and
disseminate information relating to incapacitation,
recidivism, deterrence and overall effectiveness of sentences
[and], parole dispositions imposed and bail regulations and
guidelines.
(14) Establish a program to systematically monitor
compliance with the guidelines, with the risk assessment
instrument, with recommitment ranges and with mandatory
sentencing laws to document eligibility for a release in
accordance with a county reentry plan, to document
eligibility for and imposition of recidivism risk reduction
incentive minimum sentences and to document all parole and
reparole decisions by the board and any other paroling
authority by:
* * *
(i.1) Promulgating forms which document the
application of bail and pretrial release conditions
guidelines.
* * *
(16) Report to the General Assembly on:
(i) implementation of revisions to the guidelines
under sections 2154 (relating to adoption of guidelines
for sentencing) [and], 2154.1 (relating to adoption of
guidelines for restrictive conditions) and 2154.8
(relating to adoption of guidelines for bail and pretrial
release conditions);
* * *
(v) evaluations of the effectiveness and cost-
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benefit of various criminal justice interventions and
programming, including restrictive conditions of bail,
probation, recidivism risk reduction incentive programs,
the State Drug Treatment Program, the State Motivational
Boot Camp Program, pretrial diversion programs, prisoner
treatment programs and prison reentry programs. For
evaluations of the effectiveness and cost-benefit of a
program in reducing recidivism, the commission shall
report on:
* * *
Section 2. Title 42 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 2154.8. Adoption of guidelines for bail and pretrial release
conditions.
(a) Duty of commission.--The commission shall recommend to
the General Assembly guidelines for the setting of bail and
pretrial release conditions within the limits established by law
which sha