Pennsylvania SB 274: An Act amending the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law, providing for the definition of "certified registered nurse anesthetist"; further providing for registered nurse, clinical nurse specialist, use of title "C.N.S." and credentials and fraud; and providing for certified registered nurse anesthetist and qualifications.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 228
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 274
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY CAPPELLETTI, SCHWANK, COLLETT, HAYWOOD, HUGHES,
SAVAL, KEARNEY, COMITTA, TARTAGLIONE, COSTA AND SANTARSIERO,
FEBRUARY 20, 2025
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 20, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Titles 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 61
(Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in sentencing, providing for alternative sentencing
for primary caretakers and further providing for contents of
presentence report; and, in medical services, establishing
the Maternity Medical Services Program; and making editorial
changes.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 9722.1. Alternative sentencing for primary caretakers.
(a) Sentencing.--Except as otherwise provided under this
section, immediately after the conviction of a person for a
nonviolent offense and before sentencing, the court shall
determine if the person convicted is a primary caretaker of a
dependent child. If the court determines that the person
convicted of a nonviolent offense is a primary caretaker of a
dependent child, the court shall impose an individually assessed
sentence without confinement in a prison, work camp, halfway
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facility or similar institution and based on community
rehabilitation with a focus on parent-child unity and support.
(b) Conditions.--In imposing a sentence on a primary
caretaker of a dependent child convicted of a nonviolent
offense, the court shall require the person to participate in a
program that meets certain conditions that the court considers
appropriate, including any of the following:
(1) Drug and alcohol treatment.
(2) Domestic violence education and prevention.
(3) Physical and sexual abuse counseling.
(4) Mental health treatment and counseling.
(5) Vocational and educational services.
(6) Job training and placement education.
(7) Affordable and safe housing assistance education.
(8) Financial literacy.
(9) Evidence-based parenting skills classes.
(10) Family and individual counseling.
(11) Family case management services.
(c) Appearance.--The court may require a primary caretaker
of a dependent child serving a sentence under this section to
appear in court at regularly scheduled intervals and otherwise
at any time as the court determines necessary during the
person's sentence for the following purposes:
(1) Evaluating the person's progress in treatment or
rehabilitation.
(2) Determining if the person has violated a condition
of the sentence.
(d) Modification.--During an appearance in court under
subsection (c), the court may do any of the following:
(1) Modify the conditions of a sentence imposed in
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accordance with this section.
(2) Decrease the duration of a sentence imposed under
this section based on the person's successful advancement .
(3) Sanction the person for a violation of a condition
of the sentence imposed under this section, including
requiring the person to serve a term of imprisonment within
the range of the sentence for a person who is not a primary
caretaker of a dependent child as specified under the laws of
this Commonwealth.
(e) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Dependent child." A person who is under 18 years of age and
unemancipated.
"Nonviolent offense." An offense which is not a crime of
violence as defined in section 9714(g) (relating to sentences
for second and subsequent offenses).
"Primary caretaker of a dependent child." As follows:
(1) Any of the following:
(i) A parent who has consistently assumed
responsibility for the housing, health and safety of a
child prior to incarceration.
(ii) A woman who is pregnant or has given birth to a
child after or while awaiting her sentencing hearing and
expresses a willingness to the court to assume
responsibility for the housing, health and safety of her
child.
(2) A parent who, in the best interest of the child, has
arranged for the temporary care of the child in the home of a
relative or other responsible adult shall not, for that
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reason, be excluded from this definition.
Section 2. Section 9732 of Title 42 is amended to read:
§ 9732. Contents of presentence report.
The presentence report shall include a summary of the
circumstances attending the commission of the crime, the history
of delinquency or criminality, physical and mental condition,
family situation and background, including whether the defendant
is pregnant or the primary caretaker of a dependent child,
economic status