Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

PRINTER'S NO.    3576
                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2539
                                               Session of
                                                 2024
     INTRODUCED BY KHAN, KLUNK, HOHENSTEIN, KRAJEWSKI, PIELLI,
        DONAHUE, DELLOSO, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, HADDOCK, CONKLIN,
        D. WILLIAMS, DALEY, BELLMON AND GREEN, AUGUST 21, 2024
     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, AUGUST 21, 2024
                                    AN ACT
 Amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania
    Consolidated Statutes, in general administration relating to
    correctional institutions, providing for secure transport of
    detained individuals or inmates.
    The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 hereby enacts as follows:
    Section 1.    Title 61 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
 § 1155.   Secure transport of detained individuals or inmates.
    (a)    Safety belt.--Notwithstanding subsection (b) and subject
 to the regulations promulgated under subsection (c), a
 transporting officer shall ensure that a detained individual or
 inmate is secured in a vehicle with a safety seat belt system as
 defined in 75 Pa.C.S. § 102 (relating to definitions).
    (b)    Exception.--The requirements established under
 subsection (a) shall not apply if a transporting officer
 determines that securing the detained individual or inmate with
 a safety seat belt system would place the transporting officer
 or another individual at risk of bodily injury as defined in 18
 Pa.C.S. § 2301 (relating to definitions) or if the detained
 individual or inmate is being transported in a bus as defined in
 75 Pa.C.S. § 102.
    (c)   Regulations.--Within 120 days of the effective date of
 this subsection, the department shall promulgate regulations
 regarding the use of a safety seat belt system when transporting
 a detained individual or inmate, including specific provisions
 for the transportation of a pregnant individual.
    (d)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the term
 "transporting officer" shall include peace officers as defined
 in 18 Pa.C.S. § 501 (relating to definitions) and other persons
 authorized by the laws of this Commonwealth to make arrests or
 transport individuals under official detention as defined in 18
 Pa.C.S. § 5121(e) (relating to escape).
    Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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