Pennsylvania HB 2344: An Act amending Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for protections against coerced debt; and imposing duties on the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 3117 PRINTER'S NO. 3639
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2344
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY ORTITAY, CONKLIN, MIHALEK AND JAMES,
MARCH 31, 2026
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 17, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, providing for protections against
coerced debt; and imposing duties on the Treasury Department.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF PENNSYLVANIA COURTS.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Part IV of Title 12 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 59
PROTECTIONS AGAINST COERCED DEBT
Sec.
5901. Scope of chapter.
5902. Definitions.
5903. Petition.
5904. Notice of dispute.
5905. Amended petition.
5906. Determination.
5907. Cause of action.
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§ 5901. Scope of chapter.
This chapter relates to protections against and disputes
involving coerced debt.
§ 5902. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE." THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF
PENNSYLVANIA COURTS.
"Coerced debt." A debt or portion of a debt that was
incurred because of a domestic violence offense, fraud, duress,
intimidation, threat, force, coercion, manipulation, undue
influence, misinformation or the nonconsensual use of the
debtor's personal identifying information.
"Creditor."
(1) A person to whom a debt is owed or alleged to be
owed.
(2) The term includes:
(i) An agent, servant, employee or other
representative of the person described under paragraph
(1), conducting business under the name of the person and
within this Commonwealth.
(ii) A third party utilized by the person described
under paragraph (1) for the collection of the debt owed
or alleged to be owed.
"Debt."
(1) An obligation or an alleged obligation to pay money
or other consideration.
(2) The term does not include debt secured by real
property.
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"Debtor." An individual who owes or who is alleged to owe a
debt.
"Department." The Treasury Department of the Commonwealth.
"Domestic violence offense." Any of the following offenses
under 18 Pa.C.S. (relating to crimes and offenses) if committed
against a family or household member:
(1) Chapter 27 (relating to assault).
(2) Section 2902 (relating to unlawful restraint).
(3) Section 2903 (relating to false imprisonment).
(4) Chapter 30 (relating to human trafficking).
(5) Chapter 31 (relating to sexual offenses).
(6) Section 4302 (relating to incest).
(7) Section 4304 (relating to endangering welfare of
children).
(8) Section 5902(b.1) (relating to prostitution and
related offenses).
(9) Section 6301(a)(1)(ii) (relating to corruption of
minors).
(10) Section 6312 (relating to sexual abuse of
children).
(11) Section 6318 (relating to unlawful contact with
minor).
(12) Section 6320 (relating to sexual exploitation of
children).
"Family or household member." Any of the following:
(1) A spouse or individual who has been a spouse.
(2) An individual living as a spouse or who lived as a
spouse.
(3) A parent.
(4) A child.
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(5) An individual related by consanguinity or affinity.
(6) A current or former sexual or intimate partner.
(7) An individual who shares biological parenthood.
"Perpetrator of coerced debt." An individual who caused or
is alleged to have caused coerced debt to be incurred by another
individual.
"Petition." The coerced debt dispute petition developed
under section 5903(a) (relating to petition).
"Qualified third party." Any of the following:
(1) A law enforcement officer.
(2) A physician, physician assistant, psychiatrist,
psychologist, social worker, nurse, therapist or clinical
professional counselor, if licensed or certified to practice
within this Commonwealth.
(3) An individual who advises or provides services to
other individuals regarding domestic violence, family
violence, human trafficking or abuse of children, the elderly
or dependent adults.
(4) A member of the clergy of a church, religious
society or denomination.
§ 5903. Petition.
(a) Development.--The department shall ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
MAY develop a coerced debt dispute petition to be used by a
debtor to dispute a debt as coerced debt.
(b) Contents.--The petition must MAY include:
(1) Information about the debt or portion thereof to
allow a creditor to identify the account associated with the
debt.
(2) Either of the following:
(i) A statement that the debtor did not willingly
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