Pennsylvania SB 135: An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in hunting and furtaking, further providing for dogs pursuing, injuring or killing big game.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 135
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 135
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY STREET, KEARNEY, SAVAL, TARTAGLIONE, KANE,
SCHWANK, HAYWOOD, CAPPELLETTI AND HUGHES, FEBRUARY 3, 2025
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 3, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 42 (Judiciary and
Judicial Procedure) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in authorized disposition
of offenders, further providing for sentence of persons under
the age of 18 for murder, murder of an unborn child and
murder of a law enforcement officer; in sentencing, further
providing for sentences for second and subsequent offenses;
in miscellaneous provisions relating to inmate confinement,
establishing the Life with Parole Reinvestment Fund; and, in
Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing
for parole power.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1102.1(a), (b), (c)(1) and (d)
introductory paragraph of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes are amended and the section is amended by
adding a subsection to read:
§ 1102.1. Sentence of persons under the age of 18 for murder,
murder of an unborn child and murder of a law
enforcement officer.
(a) First degree murder.--[A] Except as provided under
subsection (a.1), a person who has been convicted after June 24,
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22

2012, of a murder of the first degree[,] or first degree murder
of an unborn child [or murder of a law enforcement officer of
the first degree] and who was under the age of 18 at the time of
the commission of the offense shall be sentenced as follows:
(1) A person who at the time of the commission of the
offense was 15 years of age or older shall be sentenced to a
term of life imprisonment [without parole, or a term of
imprisonment], the minimum of which shall be [at least] 35
years to life.
(2) A person who at the time of the commission of the
offense was under 15 years of age shall be sentenced to a
term of life imprisonment [without parole, or a term of
imprisonment], the minimum of which shall be [at least] 25
years to life.
(a.1) Law enforcement officers.--A person who has been
convicted of a murder of a law enforcement officer of the first
degree and who was under 18 years of age at the time of the
commission of the offense shall be sentenced as follows:
(1) A person who at the time of the commission of the
offense was 15 years of age or older shall be sentenced to a
term of life imprisonment without parole, or a term of
imprisonment, the minimum of which shall be at least 35 years
and the maximum of which shall be life imprisonment.
(2) A person who at the time of the commission of the
offense was under 15 years of age shall be sentenced to a
term of life imprisonment without parole, or a term of
imprisonment, the minimum of which shall be at least 25 years
and the maximum of which shall be life imprisonment.
(b) Notice.--Reasonable notice to the defendant of the
Commonwealth's intention to seek a sentence of life imprisonment
20250SB0135PN0135 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

without parole under subsection (a) or (a.1) shall be provided
after conviction and before sentencing.
(c) Second degree murder.--A person who has been convicted
after June 24, 2012, of a murder of the second degree, second
degree murder of an unborn child or murder of a law enforcement
officer of the second degree and who was under the age of 18 at
the time of the commission of the offense shall be sentenced as
follows:
(1) A person who at the time of the commission of the
offense was [15] 25 years of age or older shall be sentenced
to a term of imprisonment the minimum of which shall be at
least 30 years to life.
* * *
(d) Findings.--In determining whether to impose a sentence
of life without parole under subsection (a) or (a.1), the court
shall consider and make findings on the record regarding the
following:
* * *
Section 2. Section 9714(a)(2) of Title 42 is amended to
read:
§ 9714. Sentences for second and subsequent offenses.
(a) Mandatory sentence.--
* * *
(2) Where the person had at the time of the commission
of the current offense previously been convicted of two or
more such crimes of violence arising from separate criminal
transactions, the person shall be sentenced to a minimum
sentence of at least 25 years of total confinement,
notwithstanding any other provision of this title or other
statute to the contrary. Proof that the offender received
20250SB0135PN0135 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

notice of or otherwise knew or should have known of the
penalties under this paragraph shall not be required. Upon
conviction for a third or subsequent crime of violence the
court may[, if it determines that 25 years of total
confinement is insufficient to protect the public safety,]
sente