[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6275200,"mediaKeyId","2776264-9549c2eb02b42a2a8ffa2ceac5fccbf9","parentId",2776264,"title","Committee recognizes March 18 as Public Defender Day after trimming appropriations language","audioSeconds",369,"startMs",1665000,"endMs",2034000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776264-9549c2eb02b42a2a8ffa2ceac5fccbf9&start=1665&end=2034","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776264-9549c2eb02b42a2a8ffa2ceac5fccbf9/thumbnail_1665000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6275200/Pennsylvania/Committee-recognizes-March-18-as-Public-Defender-Day-after-trimming-appropriations-language","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275200-9f216f863191e304a49800e006daf715/orig.mp4?Expires=1771019339&Signature=TljwUNT3KJg3h3ABa0ncOUh14VTcYcxisNV4x5C7EBZ-s02zVDQpjipeCxULrDbo3cOuaKDl41Z2tbuRTEJgULrEs15F3hv36f5yDsT3Vd7CfbG8vZ2152oFtoyyr7u7bW4MVPdvpbRmux9-gmDkllMtWN8K5eQPT9hLu1-QhP4Hq83-Vrayy3q8iHGIUz0-48~hSYwm3MrXSNfHVFBA1HmmjmmLhJUxpccm4t9gVONQ9MUNWgCmmjHHYL-Lg-S2ktCEzs3pFGxaNCOnf-RDKS8mcUm2Rqst27cpSaZu2NNXqVU6Uzdj3bWUDUkp~78zNwVIO5-zrsN0ITd3-gSyIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pennsylvania House of Representatives","date","2025-03-26T14:23:09.327Z","article","Under 'any other business' the House Judiciary Committee took up House Resolution 143, which recognizes March 18, 2025, as Public Defender Day in the Commonwealth. Committee counsel said an amendment introduced by the chair removes language referring to appropriations and focuses the resolution solely on recognition.

Chairman Kaufman moved the amendment, which the committee accepted after a roll-call vote. The roll call recorded several explicit ‘no’ votes in the transcript (Representative Miller registered a “no,” and Representatives Raab and Kinkade said they opposed removal of appropriations language), and committee leadership announced the amendment passed; the transcript contains two inconsistent announced tallies (first “26 to 3,” later “23 to 3”) before counsel and the chair recorded the resolution as adopted and reported to the floor.

Representative Raab said he opposed removing the appropriations language because including funding context appropriately recognizes the struggles public defenders face and provides important context; Representative Kinkade likewise opposed removing that language and urged that funding shortfalls remain a key policy issue to address.

Committee counsel described the amendment as removing appropriations language and focusing the resolution on recognition only. After the amendment passed, the committee recorded no negative votes on the resolution as amended and reported it to the floor.

The chair also reminded members to RSVP for a March 31 roundtable at SCI Coal Township; the meeting was adjourned.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Judiciary Committee -- March 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Under any other business the committee considered House Resolution 143, removing language on appropriations for indigent defense and unanimously adopting the amendment; the resolution recognizing March 18, 2025 as Public Defender Day will be reported to the floor.","taxTitle","Judiciary, House of Representatives, Legislative, Pennsylvania","taxId",29244,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6275205,"Panel clears bill to expand liability protection for donated food past date labels",326,1289000,1615000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776264-9549c2eb02b42a2a8ffa2ceac5fccbf9&start=1289&end=1615","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776264-9549c2eb02b42a2a8ffa2ceac5fccbf9/thumbnail_1289000.jpg","/articles/6275205/Pennsylvania/Panel-clears-bill-to-expand-liability-protection-for-donated-food-past-date-labels","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275205-dc18b2ed26b6af3f849dfefecafc2ae5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771019339&Signature=GSjuEmwmfRpKE6ZTPlwMNRXYrpOPbKP6MQucnK0jT7hcYCiIeoi-HKWpgqLG~l~t1NU9TBX6rOarwnTY6ETnB6Zt~KvTKuM4WI1mn-yPSNCbAhHJS~Thfhm6r3LtJSeIAEV0o~tQhCJ3AhIVBFQjFM4K1sWB1R9mH-1C8JyS49xJ9b6RUvq-FDLIkoPxjIAmw7Gbjm2KM3AERc9K-GwavWrxRdHkPW9NcB2KIyDBH5NQHytxRA8DdmRqKOpEeKAA3J9N5Mi7xfbgPz8dumBJcZPUrDDZ6Tiv-PE1FQa4lPs0vqtGsz-U5AyUfnRyhMsXFrb7okFqOUp1vU1z4R80QA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Judiciary Committee unanimously reported House Bill 615, which would expand the donated-food liability protections to cover food that has passed a manufacturer’s labeled date but remains fit for human consumption, provided the donor makes a good-faith evaluation that the food is safe.

Committee counsel described the change as an amendment to the Donated Food Liability Limited Liability Act and said immunity would not apply if damages result from a donor’s negligence, recklessness, intentional misconduct, or where the donor had actual or constructive knowledge that food was tainted or harmful. Counsel said the bill takes effect immediately and carries no amendments in committee.

Sponsors — Representatives Khan and Tom Jones — described the bill as bipartisan and supported by the administration and the hunger caucus. Khan said the measure addresses food insecurity and food waste by allowing food banks and stores to donate excess items that are past peak freshness but still safe to eat. “This bill addresses food waste, but most critically, it addresses food insecurity by helping these families get access to this food that is good,” Khan said.

Representative Kinkade, chair of the hunger caucus, urged colleagues to attend a follow-up conversation with the charitable food network and noted increasing food insecurity and federal uncertainties around SNAP and other funding.

The committee recorded a unanimous vote to report the bill to the floor.","The House Judiciary Committee unanimously reported House Bill 615, which would expand civil and criminal immunity for donors who give food past manufacturer date labels but still fit for consumption, provided donors make a good-faith evaluation; the bill takes effect immediately.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6275208,"Committee OKs fund to reward tips in killings of law enforcement officers",188,1047000,1235000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776264-9549c2eb02b42a2a8ffa2ceac5fccbf9&start=1047&end=1235","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776264-9549c2eb02b42a2a8ffa2ceac5fccbf9/thumbnail_1047000.jpg","/articles/6275208/Pennsylvania/Committee-OKs-fund-to-reward-tips-in-killings-of-law-enforcement-officers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275208-8780d5d8c1778c1099535c130b654ee3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771019339&Signature=XQ76bv7nENGD4RzNzsAzZXO4gX4~FYwygxXruIthOcLRaPsa0NaE6-dUZxl1T59aL7-py2FcwUJaXPxW3e1egGXSxKu3It44pTeHDIybEbQUIUCrE5YFZLpuYThw3bu3LxwPYGH-y7mFnEA1B5W5kreUeGucRfkTZWGPq0BLwi475FXU0PAAc4SXvgvO0z261Qo5J-cEbKLRASimjr4CupIgph0RDFLO5GmI00lPLlqRZtUofSgiBw~t95h2S7fqbdoYLUbQY0nS-NWZqYvlmhy0oRsGXmkrIf-bRxfT9IusHIgRdA7diPHTccSJ6rV9N6ohEtpRxXvm4pM3KMFo4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Judiciary Committee unanimously reported House Bill 591, which would create a fund administered through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) to pay up to $50,000 to individuals who provide information leading to the capture and arrest of a person convicted of murdering a law enforcement officer.

Committee counsel said the fund would be named for Constable William Davidson, the first recorded law enforcement officer killed in Pennsylvania in 1825, and that the fund would consist of General Assembly appropriations to the Constable William Davidson reward fund. Counsel said the bill takes effect in 60 days and contains no amendments.

Representative Rabe (who spoke in favor) said he would vote yes in committee but expressed a concern about singling out a subset of the population for special attention, noting other front-line workers also face violence and asking for evidence that such reward funds are effective. He asked that the PCCD or research entities provide evidence on efficacy in future evaluations.

No negative votes were recorded and the committee clerk recorded the bill as reported to the floor.","House Bill 591 would establish a Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency fund to pay up to $50,000 to informants whose information leads to arrest in killings of law enforcement officers; committee voted unanimously to report the bill to the floor.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6275209,"Panel backs tougher grading, sentencing enhancement for adults in authority who corrupt minors",306,263000,569000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776264-9549c2eb02b42a2a8ffa2ceac5fccbf9&start=263&end=569","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776264-9549c2eb02b42a2a8ffa2ceac5fccbf9/thumbnail_263000.jpg","/articles/6275209/Pennsylvania/Panel-backs-tougher-grading-sentencing-enhancement-for-adults-in-authority-who-corrupt-minors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275209-8c491298fe79a5947add7644b418c555/orig.mp4?Expires=1771019339&Signature=flom9yYWUCxrp04EHeAlL4XOTMc-DKGzo~QBFm0-eZ-igQoUnJkaG2sqvXzAAb7rrTBbnkaCCMROOFuHk1W-PP-fdYoiTk~ALI4t5t757PEmO6WfhJGFsdt~vHtxj2jupUYvwhl1k64htKfBXLeTDUp~p-nWmI3MkCp513JnWcntUtWcUive64BqPpiaUU0OEmltOSAj7PiTjyF8IyQpiIrlD9~HhUufmQB9rFGdr~YnwJPM8kYHjlzM5rw5vqJ6RJ0qUE2LaPaRPC9j0lZseb0ss0dKIrGaLmkTB1WMapkgmewIvX6XUE~SzTRU3EsusaZqXauebnhNBnfHmW9oFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Judiciary Committee unanimously reported House Bill 355 to the floor after adopting an amendment that directs the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing to provide a sentencing enhancement where the defendant is a mandatory reporter.

Committee counsel said the bill amends Title 18, Section 6301 (corruption of minors) to increase the offense grading to a third-degree felony when “a person in a position of authority corrupts the morals of a minor,” and to a second-degree felony in certain circumstances involving related offenses under Chapter 31. Counsel said the bill takes effect in 60 days and that one amendment was filed.

Representative Piali, one of the bill’s primary sponsors, told the committee that educator misconduct and abuse by people in positions of trust are underreported and that existing penalties and plea outcomes sometimes do not match the gravity of the misconduct. “We hold those who protect and educate our children to the highest standard,” Piali said. The sponsor thanked stakeholders and a constituent, Grace McGee, who attended the hearing.

Representative Georgi (co-sponsor) described the bill as bipartisan and credited constituents who have advocated for stronger penalties. Representative Kinkade, who said he is generally opposed to sentencing enhancements, said he supported this bill because it “does what a sentencing enhancement is supposed to do” — hold someone who has abused public trust to greater account.

The committee adopted Amendment 00211 (the Briggs amendment), which instructs the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing to provide the enhancement under Section 6301 where the defendant is a mandatory reporter as defined in Title 23, Section 6311. The amendment was moved and seconded from the floor and was recorded as passing unanimously; the bill as amended was then reported to the floor.

No negative votes were recorded on the final bill as amended.","The House Judiciary Committee unanimously reported House Bill 355 as amended; the bill raises penalties for adults in positions of authority who corrupt a minor and adds a sentencing enhancement for mandatory reporters under an adopted amendment.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6275210,"Committee advances bill to raise deceased-account withdrawal for funeral costs to $20,000",284,163000,447000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776264-9549c2eb02b42a2a8ffa2ceac5fccbf9&start=163&end=447","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776264-9549c2eb02b42a2a8ffa2ceac5fccbf9/thumbnail_163000.jpg","/articles/6275210/Pennsylvania/Committee-advances-bill-to-raise-deceased-account-withdrawal-for-funeral-costs-to-20000","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6275210-b320f1d25ca40658fd61479ae7eba684/orig.mp4?Expires=1771019339&Signature=mBRwBpsRJ1r9AmQGcREXDNVxtWgCVGsjnt5xaRidS3TDMHnR8w96Mq1hU~i-Ru9YYA3IF5O252IH6rzhEsb7bt~xLPGMSBsPLJtRmzCBbZGNEnuDavr5rkzAWlOcm6n9fRi2b5XYRMkGWA03fpkDhqD46OBzrGUxqAXqZO0SQpPwnG3DYp2XI5AnuBEGDywDwOZ6FiLyX8e02DdVKjhWufsibLJSDgNbzzFJJ-KJsxqOvKeVV5q3sZF036En2pRFpEHJzdUo3h5WXEvYSTmMbaeBoBhKDF2T298v0Y1IXvGvHkLalnjx6h9SJwGRV6-TNONp-ezfsQn-SrGTdjak8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday unanimously advanced House Bill 167, which would let a financial institution release up to $20,000 to a close family member of a deceased person when the family shows a bill verifying funeral expenses have been paid.

The change would amend Title 20, Section 3101(b) to raise the existing $10,000 threshold, increase the priority order for dispute distribution (spouse, any child, a parent, then siblings), and take effect 60 days after enactment. Committee counsel described the measure as a way “to help families avoid the costly probate process when there are minimal assets in the estate.”

Representative Bonner, the bill’s sponsor, said the $10,000 limit set in 2013 is now “relatively low” and argued the increase reflects inflation and would reduce the need for families to pay roughly $1,500 in attorney and court costs to access small estates. “So this is a cost saving method, to release the funds to the family member as well,” Bonner said.

There were no amendments and no recorded negative votes. The committee clerk recorded the bill as reported to the floor as recommended.

The bill does not change tax treatment: counsel noted the withdrawn funds would not escape inheritance tax. The committee did not identify any additional implementation steps or required rule changes for financial institutions.","The House Judiciary Committee unanimously reported House Bill 167 to the floor; the bill would let close relatives withdraw up to $20,000 from a deceased person’s account to pay verified funeral expenses, up from $10,000, taking effect in 60 days.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee recognizes March 18 as Public Defender Day after trimming appropriations language

Panel clears bill to expand liability protection for donated food past date labels

Committee OKs fund to reward tips in killings of law enforcement officers

Panel backs tougher grading, sentencing enhancement for adults in authority who corrupt minors

Committee advances bill to raise deceased-account withdrawal for funeral costs to $20,000