Nov. 18, 2019
WHAT: Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, will hold a voting meeting of the committee to consider the following bills, which focus on criminal justice reforms:
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House Bill 44 (Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Greene/Fayette/Washington) – Give corrections officers the opportunity to submit a written statement or testify in-person at parole hearings.
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House Bill 256 (Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar, R-Somerset/Bedford) – Redefine assault on a prison staff member to reflect there is a lower threshold for an assault to occur when committed by an inmate against staff.
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House Bill 257 (Metzgar) – Impose a mandatory five-year sentence for those convicted of staff assault, served consecutive to a prior sentence, and a $5,000 fine against the inmate’s commissary account.
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House Bill 1781 (Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, R-Centre/Clinton) – Allow the governing authority of a county to permit its county corrections officers to carry and store a handgun and ammunition in a vehicle at a county correctional institution.
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House Bill 1855 (Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) – Preclude the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole from paroling an inmate at the expiration of his or her minimum sentence if the inmate was convicted of a violent offense or an obstruction of justice offense while incarcerated.
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House Resolution 178 (Rep. Joseph Petrarca, D-Westmoreland/Armstrong/Indiana) - Recommend the Department of Corrections provide identification badges for corrections officers.
The committee will also consider
House Resolution 579, sponsored by Rep. Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia/Delaware), designating Nov. 25, 2019, “Elimination of Violence Against Women Day” in Pennsylvania.
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m.
WHERE: Room G-50, Irvis Office Building, Capitol Complex, Harrisburg.
LIVE WEBSTREAMING:
RepKauffman.com.
Media contact: Tricia Lehman, 717.772.9840,
tlehman@pahousegop.com