Pennsylvania HB888: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in authorized disposition of offenders, further providing for sentence for murder, murder of unborn child and murder of law enforcement officer; in arson, criminal mischief and other property destruction, further providing for the offense of arson and related offenses; in jurisdiction of appellate courts, further providing for direct appeals from courts of common pleas; in post-trial matters, further providing for postconviction DNA testing and for disposition and appeal; in sentencing, further providing for sentencing procedure for murder of the first degree; and, in execution procedure and method, repealing provisions relating to issuance of warrant.

What the bill says

From the introduced text, March 17, 2025:

PRINTER'S NO. 960 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL No. Session of INTRODUCED BY DIAMOND, M. BROWN, HANBIDGE, D'ORSIE, WAXMAN, DAVIDSON AND KHAN, MARCH 17, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 17, 2025 Amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in authorized disposition of offenders, further providing for sentence for murder, murder of unborn child and murder of law enforcement officer; in arson, criminal mischief and other property destruction, further providing for the offense of arson and related offenses; in jurisdiction of appellate courts, further providing for direct appeals from courts of common pleas; in post-trial matters, further providing for postconviction DNA testing and for disposition and appeal; in sentencing, further providing for sentencing procedure for murder of the first degree; and, in execution procedure and method, repealing provisions relating to issuance of warrant. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows: Section 1. Sections 1102(a) and 3301(b)(1) of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read: § 1102. Sentence for murder, murder of unborn child and murder of law enforcement officer. (a) First degree.-- (1) Except as provided under section 1102.1 (relating to sentence of persons under the age of 18 for murder, murder of an …

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