THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY MARSICO, CALTAGIRONE, ADOLPH, BAKER, BARRAR, D. COSTA, DePASQUALE, ELLIS, EVERETT, GEIST, GINGRICH, KAUFFMAN, M.K. KELLER, KNOWLES, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, PAYNE, PETRI, PICKETT, QUINN, REICHLEY, ROAE, SCAVELLO, SONNEY, STEPHENS, WATSON, GOODMAN, BEAR, BOBACK, MAJOR, STEVENSON, HALUSKA, HESS, J. EVANS, CLYMER, SCHRODER, MURPHY, HELM, HARRIS, REED, GRELL, DEASY, MANN, HORNAMAN, O'NEILL, MILLER, GIBBONS, KILLION AND KOTIK, JANUARY 19, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JANUARY 19, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in registration of sexual

offenders, further providing for information made available

on the Internet.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 9798.1(a) and (b) introductory paragraph

of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are

amended and subsection (b) is amended by adding a paragraph to

read:

§ 9798.1.  Information made available on the Internet and

electronic notification.

(a)  Legislative findings.--It is hereby declared to be the

finding of the General Assembly that public safety will be

enhanced by making information about sexually violent predators,

lifetime registrants and other sex offenders available to the

public through the Internet and electronic notification.

Knowledge of whether a person is a sexually violent predator,

lifetime registrant or other sex offender could be a significant

factor in protecting oneself and one's family members, or those

in care of a group or community organization, from recidivist

acts by sexually violent predators, lifetime registrants and

other sex offenders. The technology afforded by the Internet and

electronic notification would make this information readily

accessible to parents and private entities, enabling them to

undertake appropriate remedial precautions to prevent or avoid

placing potential victims at risk. Public access to information

about sexually violent predators, lifetime registrants and other

sex offenders is intended solely as a means of public protection

and shall not be construed as punitive.

(b)  Internet posting of sexually violent predators, lifetime

registrants [and], other offenders and electronic

notification.--The Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police

shall, in the manner and form directed by the Governor:

* * *

(7)  Notwithstanding 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 91 (relating to

criminal history record information), develop, implement and

maintain a process which allows members of the public to

receive electronic notification when an individual required

to register under this subchapter moves into or out of a

user-designated location.

* * *

Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.