Pennsylvania HB 2501: An Act amending the act of December 3, 1959 (P.L.1688, No.621), known as the Housing Finance Agency Law, in the agency, providing for operations during state of disaster emergency.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3386
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2501
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY KAUFFMAN, RAPP AND STENDER, MAY 8, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MAY 8, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and
Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in authorized disposition of offenders, further
providing for sentence for murder, murder of unborn child and
murder of law enforcement officer; and, in sentencing,
further providing for sentences for second and subsequent
offenses and for life imprisonment for homicides.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1102(b) of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended and the section is amended by
adding a subsection to read:
§ 1102. Sentence for murder, murder of unborn child and murder
of law enforcement officer.
* * *
(b) Second degree.--
(1) Except as provided under section 1102.1, a person
who has been convicted of murder of the second degree, of
second degree murder of an unborn child or of second degree
murder of a law enforcement officer shall be sentenced [to a
term of life imprisonment.] as follows:
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(i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii), the
person shall be sentenced to a minimum term of
imprisonment of at least 35 years.
(ii) Notwithstanding subparagraph (i), the person
shall be sentenced to a term of life imprisonment without
parole or a term of imprisonment of at least 40 years to
life without parole, if the finder of fact determines
beyond a reasonable doubt that the person:
(A) caused the death of the victim; or
(B) was an active participant in the killing of
the victim.
(2) Reasonable notice to the defendant of the intention
of the Commonwealth to seek a sentence of life imprisonment
without parole under paragraph (1) shall be provided after
the conviction and before the sentencing of the defendant.
(3) In determining whether to impose a sentence of life
without parole in accordance with paragraph (1), the court
shall consider and make findings on the record regarding the
following:
(i) The impact of the offense on each victim,
including oral and written impact statements made or
submitted by family members of the victim detailing the
physical, psychological and economic effects of the crime
on the victim and the victim's family. A victim statement
may include comment on the sentence of the defendant.
(ii) The impact of the offense on the community.
(iii) The threat posed by the defendant to the
safety of the public or an individual.
(iv) The nature and circumstances of the offense
committed by the defendant, including the level of
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planning, use of a deadly weapon, degree of violence and
vulnerability of the victim.
(v) The degree of the defendant's culpability.
(vi) The defendant's prior criminal history,
including the nature and circumstances of prior offenses
and any history of violent conduct.
(vii) Guidelines for sentencing and resentencing
adopted by the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing.
(viii) Any other factor that the court deems
relevant to the imposition of a sentence under this
section.
* * *
(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:
"Active participant." A defendant whose conduct was a
substantial factor in bringing about the death of the victim or
who aided or attempted to aid another person in the acts
resulting in the victim's death. The term includes a defendant
who:
(1) caused or attempted to cause serious bodily injury
to the victim;
( 2) committed or attempted to commit an offense listed
under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.14 (relating to sexual offenses and
tier system) against the victim;
(3) used or possessed a deadly weapon during the
commission of the underlying felony;
(4) restrained, confined, isolated or otherwise
prevented the victim from escaping while another person
caused the death of the victim;
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(5) directed, commanded, solicited or encouraged another
person in conduct that resulted in the death of the victim;
(6) planned, organized or exercised decision-making
authority over the commission of the underlying felony in a
manner that materially contributed to the death of the
victim;
(7) knowingly created a grave risk of death to the
victim or another person during the commission of the
underlying felony; or
(8) was present at the scene of the offense and, with
knowledge that deadly force was being used or was
substantially likely to be used, failed to take reasonable
steps to prevent the death of the victim despite having a
realistic opportunity to do so.
"Deadly weapo