Pennsylvania SB 1266: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in juvenile matters, further providing for definitions, providing for financial obligations imposed on child and further providing for disposition of delinquent child.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1578
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1266
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY YAW, KEARNEY, VOGEL, BARTOLOTTA AND STEFANO,
APRIL 13, 2026
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, APRIL 13, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in juvenile matters,
further providing for definitions, providing for financial
obligations imposed on child and further providing for
disposition of delinquent child.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definition of "child" in section 6302 of
Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to
read:
§ 6302. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
meanings given to them in this section:
* * *
"Child." An individual who:
(1) is under the age of 18 years;
(2) is under the age of 21 years who committed an act of
delinquency before reaching the age of 18 years; or
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(3) is under the age of 21 years and was adjudicated
dependent before reaching the age of 18 years, who has
requested the court to retain jurisdiction and who remains
under the jurisdiction of the court as a dependent child
because the court has determined that the child is:
(i) completing secondary education or an equivalent
credential;
(ii) enrolled in an institution which provides
postsecondary or [vocational] career and technical
education;
(iii) participating in a program actively designed
to promote or remove barriers to employment;
(iv) employed for at least 80 hours per month; or
(v) incapable of doing any of the activities
described in subparagraph (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) due to
a medical or behavioral health condition, which is
supported by regularly updated information in the
permanency plan of the child.
* * *
Section 2. Title 42 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 6312. Financial obligations imposed on child.
(a) Obligation.--Except as provided in subsection (b), a
child or a child's parent, guardian or custodian shall not be
required to pay a fee, cost or other monetary obligation under
this chapter, including for participation in a program,
evaluation or service or as part of an informal adjustment,
consent decree or order of disposition.
(b) Exception for restitution.--Subsection (a) does not
apply to restitution ordered under section 6352(a)(5) (relating
to disposition of delinquent child).
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Section 3. Section 6352(a)(5) and (6) of Title 42 are
amended to read:
§ 6352. Disposition of delinquent child.
(a) General rule.--If the child is found to be a delinquent
child the court may make any of the following orders of
disposition determined to be consistent with the protection of
the public interest and best suited to the child's treatment,
supervision, rehabilitation and welfare, which disposition
shall, as appropriate to the individual circumstances of the
child's case, provide balanced attention to the protection of
the community, the imposition of accountability for offenses
committed and the development of competencies to enable the
child to become a responsible and productive member of the
community:
* * *
(5) Ordering payment by the child of a reasonable
[amounts] amount of money [as fines, costs, fees or] for
restitution as deemed appropriate as part of the plan of
rehabilitation considering the nature of the acts committed
and the earning capacity of the child, including a
contribution to a restitution fund and the Crime Victim
Services and Compensation Fund not to exceed $50 for each
fund. The president judge of the court of common pleas shall
establish a restitution fund for the deposit of all
contributions to the restitution fund which are received or
collected. The president judge of the court of common pleas
shall promulgate written guidelines for the administration of
the fund. Disbursements from the fund shall be made, subject
to the written guidelines and the limitations of this
chapter, at the discretion of the president judge and used to
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reimburse crime victims for financial losses resulting from
delinquent acts. For an order made under this subsection, the
court shall retain jurisdiction until there has been full
compliance with the order or until the delinquent child
attains 21 years of age. Any restitution order which remains
unpaid at the time the child attains 21 years of age shall
continue to be collectible under section 9728 (relating to
collection of restitution, reparation, fees, costs, fines and
penalties).
(6) An order of the terms of probation may include [an]
appropriate [fine considering the nature of the act committed
or] restitution not in excess of actual damages caused