Judiciary Committee Moves Legislation to Strengthen Pennsylvania’s Firearms Laws
HARRISBURG – House Judiciary Committee Majority Chairman Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) moved legislation to strengthen Pennsylvania’s firearms laws today during the committee’s scheduled weekly voting meeting.
“Possessing and using a firearm is a right in our country,” said Marsico. “Unfortunately, we see many people abuse this right. The legislation we passed today in the Judiciary Committee will, we hope, help to stop some of this abuse.”
House Bill 1496 would increase the penalty for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon from a felony of the second degree to a felony of the first degree. This legislation gives Pennsylvania’s judges the flexibility to impose greater penalties for felons who illegally possess firearms. Currently, a felon who is convicted of illegally possessing a firearm faces a maximum sentence of 5-10 years. This legislation would increase the maximum possible punishment to 10-20 years.
House Bill 1497 would increase the grading for possession of a firearm by a juvenile who was previously adjudicated delinquent for certain offenses from a misdemeanor of the first degree to a felony of the second degree. The bill also adds a felony violation of the Controlled Substance Act to the list of offenses which will be graded as a felony of the second degree, but includes those violations among those for which the firearms disability may be removed after 15 years.
House Bill 1498 would re-enact and amend the Uniform Firearms Act to require the Pennsylvania State Police to send relevant mental health data to the National Instant Check System (NICS).
In addition to House Bills 1496, 1497 and 1498, several other bills moved through the committee today, including:
House Bill 853 would increase penalties for homicide by vehicle and aggravated assault by vehicle where the offense is the result of texting. The maximum penalty for homicide by vehicle as a result of texting would increase by five years and the maximum for aggravated assault by vehicle while texting would increase by two years.
Senate Bill 594 would amend the animal cruelty statute to create a new offense relating to killing or maiming a cat or dog when the cat or dog belongs to a person with a protection from abuse order and the person committing the offense is subject to the protection from abuse order. The person will be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $2,000 and not more than $15,000 or imprisonment of not more than two years or both.
Senate Bill 1077 would amend the notice requirement to parents where a school district intends to use audio recording on school buses. Currently, school districts must inform parents by a physical mailing each year. The bill will eliminate the mailing requirement if the notice is included in a student handbook or publication of school rules, procedures and standards of conduct and is published on the school entity’s website.
Senate Bill 1104 would fulfill the recommendations of the Joint State Government Commission’s Advisory Committee on Decedents Estates Law with respect to various changes to Title 20, including those related to powers of attorney, trusts and powers of appointment. The advisory committee published its recommendations in a June 2010 report. More specifically, the bill allows a principal to empower an agent to operate a business and to provide for personal and family maintenance; codifies case law by creating a new chapter in Title 20 relating to powers of appointment; permits a court to divide a trust into a number of trusts; and with respect to durable powers of attorney, requires a court to determine the relationship between the guardian of the person and the agent.
The legislation will now go to the full House for consideration.
Representative Ronald Marsico
105th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
RonMarsico.com
Media Contact: Autumn R. Southard, 717.652.3721
asouthar@pahousegop.com