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

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.