The bill amends Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes regarding the commencement of proceedings for protection from abuse. It introduces a $100 surcharge on defendants when a protection order is granted, with the funds distributed in a specified order. Notably, $25 will be allocated to the Pennsylvania State Police for maintaining a statewide registry of protection orders, while another $25 will go to the law enforcement agency that serves the order. The bill also modifies the allocation of funds previously designated for the sheriff and the court, now allowing $25 to be retained by the county for sheriff operations and $25 to be used by the court for related provisions. Additionally, the funds for victims of domestic violence will now be directed to the Department of Human Services.

Furthermore, the bill removes previous language regarding the court's adoption of service methods and the sheriff's role in serving petitions and orders. Instead, it mandates that the court establish a prompt and effective service method, specifically ordering that the sheriff or appropriate law enforcement agency serve the petition and order. This change aims to streamline the process of serving protection orders while ensuring the safety of all parties involved. The act is set to take effect in 60 days.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 236 (Feb 25, 2025): 23-6106(d)
Printer's No. 762 (May 12, 2025): 23-6106(d)
Printer's No. 0236: 23-6106(d)