Pennsylvania HB 895: An Act amending the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the Commonwealth Attorneys Act, in Office of Attorney General, providing for citizens' intervention in conspiracies; and imposing duties on the Office of Attorney General.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 937
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 895
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HOWARD, FREEMAN, KENYATTA, HILL-EVANS, KHAN,
SANCHEZ, GUENST AND GREEN, MARCH 13, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 13, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), entitled
"A supplement to the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175),
entitled 'An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct
of the executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth
by the Executive Department thereof and the administrative
departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
officers, and of the several administrative departments,
boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
and commissions; and prescribing the manner in which the
number and compensation of the deputies and all other
assistants and employes of certain departments, boards and
commissions shall be determined,' implementing the addition
of section 4.1 to Article IV of the Constitution of
Pennsylvania; establishing the Office of Attorney General
elected by the citizens and setting forth powers and duties
of the Attorney General; creating an Office of General
Counsel and providing for legal services for Commonwealth
agencies; transferring, reorganizing or reconstituting
certain boards, commissions and agencies; placing certain
duties upon the courts and district attorneys; repealing
certain acts and parts of acts and making appropriations," in
Office of Attorney General, providing for citizens'
intervention in conspiracies; and imposing duties on the
Office of Attorney General.
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This act shall be known and may be cited as the Citizens'
Intervention in Conspiracies Act.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164),
known as the Commonwealth Attorneys Act, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 205.1. Citizens' intervention in conspiracies.
(a) Findings and declarations.--The General Assembly finds
and declares as follows:
(1) While the office has substantial authority under
numerous Federal statutes to enforce laws in concurrence with
Federal authority, prosecution of many of the crimes
implicated is hampered by a lack of access to evidence.
(2) The office should be empowered to collaborate more
fully with interested parties that may have information about
crimes affecting this Commonwealth and its residents.
(b) Communication with office.--
(1) The office shall establish a publicly accessible
Internet website, email address and toll-free telephone
number, or shall modify an existing publicly accessible
Internet website, email address and toll-free telephone
number, to enable a person with knowledge of a violation of a
statute or regulation enumerated in subsection (c), or in
possession of evidence of the violation, to communicate with
the office and provide information and evidence regarding the
violation.
(2) Upon communicating with the office under paragraph
(1), the office shall provide the person with a unique
identifying number regarding the subject matter. The person
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must then:
(i) Create a password of the person's choosing.
(ii) Provide information to the office sufficient
for the office to be able to contact the person and
summon the person to testify in a proceeding brought by
the office regarding the subject matter.
(c) Enumerated offenses.--The information and evidence
provided under subsection (b)(1) shall be collected to prosecute
crimes for which the office has original or concurrent
jurisdiction, including the following Federal acts and any rules
or regulations promulgated thereunder:
(1) 12 U.S.C. Ch. 27 (relating to real estate settlement
procedures).
(2) 12 U.S.C. Ch. 53 (relating to Wall Street reform and
consumer protection).
(3) 15 U.S.C. Ch. 1 (relating to monopolies and
combinations in restraint of trade).
(4) 15 U.S.C. Ch. 41 Subch. I Pt. A (relating to general
provisions), regarding consumer credit cost disclosure.
(5) 15 U.S.C. Ch. 41 Subch. II-A (relating to credit
repair organizations).
(6) 15 U.S.C. Ch. 41 Subch. III (relating to credit
reporting agencies).
(7) 15 U.S.C. Ch. 47 (relating to consumer product
safety).
(8) 15 U.S.C. Ch. 87 (relating to