Pennsylvania HB 983: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms and for sale or transfer of firearms and providing for Gun Violence Task Force in cities of the first class.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1073
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 983
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY C. WILLIAMS, MARCELL, CUTLER, SHAFFER AND BONNER,
MARCH 20, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 20, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous
articles, further providing for persons not to possess, use,
manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms and for sale
or transfer of firearms and providing for Gun Violence Task
Force in cities of the first class.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 6105(d.1)(3) and 6111(d.1)(3) of Title
18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to
read:
§ 6105. Persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell
or transfer firearms.
* * *
(d.1) Concurrent jurisdiction to prosecute.--The following
apply in a city of the first class where the Attorney General
has operated a joint local-State firearm task force:
* * *
(3) This subsection shall not apply to any case
instituted [two years after the effective date of this
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subsection.]:
(i) after September 2, 2021, and before the
effective date of this subparagraph; or
(ii) after December 31, 2026.
* * *
§ 6111. Sale or transfer of firearms.
* * *
(d.1) Concurrent jurisdiction to prosecute.--The following
apply in a city of the first class where the Attorney General
has operated a joint local-State firearm task force:
* * *
(3) This subsection shall not apply to any case
instituted [two years after the effective date of this
subsection.]:
(i) after September 2, 2021, and before the
effective date of this subparagraph; or
(ii) after December 31, 2026.
* * *
Section 2. Title 18 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 6129. Gun Violence T ask Force in cities of the firs t class.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) A joint local-State firearm task force is
established in each city of the first class, which shall be
known as the Gun Violence Task Force.
(2) The Gun Violence Task Force shall be under the
authority of the Attorney General.
(b) Powers and duties.--
(1) The Gun Violence Task Force shall investigate and
prosecute violations of sections 6105 (relating to persons
not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer
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firearms) and 6111 (relating to sale or transfer of
firearms), and similar offenses under Federal law, in a city
of the first class.
(2) The Gun Violence Task Force shall initiate
prosecutions only in a Federal or State court located in a
city of the first class.
(3) The Gun Violence Task Force may utilize
investigatory teams under subsection (e).
(c) Composition.--
(1) The Gun Violence Task Force shall include, at a
minimum:
(i) The Attorney General or deputy attorneys
general.
(ii) Members of the office of the district attorney
in a city of the first class.
(iii) Law enforcement officers of the Attorney
General.
(iv) Law enforcement officers of a city of the first
class.
(v) Law enforcement officers of the Pennsylvania
State Police.
(2) The Gun Violence Task Force may include, as
determined by the Attorney General:
(i) Federal law enforcement officers.
(ii) Other Commonwealth law enforcement officers
located in a city of the first class.
(iii) Other local law enforcement officers located
in a city of the first class.
(iv) Campus police officers located in a city of the
first class.
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(v) Transit agency police officers located in a city
of the first class.
(d) Funding.--The Gun Violence Task Force shall be funded
from annual General Fund appropriations to a joint local-State
firearm task force in a city of the first class. Funding shall
be under the control of the Attorney General.
(e) Investigatory teams.--The Attorney General may empanel
individualized investigatory teams that work in conjunction with
and under the purview of the Gun Violence Task Force.
(f) Notice.-- Each law enforcement agency that is a member of
the Gun Violence Task Force shall notify the Gu n Violence Task
Force of any arrest or other criminal action or proceeding
involving an alleged violation of section 6105 or 6111 within 48
hours of the arrest or of instituting the action or proceeding.
(g) Preemptive jurisdiction over certain offenses.--
(1) The A ttorney General may assert preemptive
prosecutorial jurisdiction over any criminal actions or
proceedings, including proceedings for the forfeiture or
condemnation of property under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 58 (relating to
forfeiture of assets), for which the Attorney General has
jurisdiction under section 6105 or 6111.
(2) Any assertion of preemptive prosecutorial
jurisdiction under this subsection shall be within the sole
discretion of the Attorney General, who shall c