Jul. 01, 2019
HARRISBURG – The governor recently signed into law
Senate Bill 479, legislation that mirrors a bill authored by Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), to protect more children from the trauma of testifying in court. The bill was sponsored in the Senate chamber by Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne/Pike/Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming).
“I am pleased that the children of Pennsylvania are gaining greater protection because of our combined efforts in the Legislature,” said Kauffman. “By each chamber authoring this legislation we strengthened our odds of getting it signing into law.”
The new law expands the circumstances in which out-of-court statements by a child may be deemed admissible.
Current law is limited to homicide, assault, kidnapping, burglary, robbery and certain specified sexual offenses. Senate Bill 479 adds child sexual abuse, child exploitation, incest, endangering the welfare of children (if the conduct involved sexual contact with the child), unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and human trafficking to the list of covered crimes.
Kauffman, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said, “This new law is needed in order to keep pace with new crimes against children added to the state’s Crimes Code. This is about making it easier for young children to testify in court in order to hold their perpetrators accountable.”
Senate Bill 479 will go into effect in 60 days.
Representative Rob Kauffman
89th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tricia Lehman
717.772.9840
tlehman@pahousegop.com
RepKauffman.com