HB 2227 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in human trafficking, further providing for victim protection during prosecution.
Last action — Laid on the table
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✓Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed House
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
59 added · 31 removedPlain-language change summary
The amended version of Bill HB 2227 introduces a significant change regarding how victims of human trafficking can defend themselves in court. It now allows these victims to present an affirmative defense for any crime committed as a direct result of the trafficking, regardless of whether anyone was prosecuted for the trafficking itself. This is important because it recognizes the coercive circumstances that many victims face, potentially providing them with better legal protections and support.
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
2975 THEPRINTER'S GENERALNO. ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
22273004 2024THE INTRODUCEDGENERAL BYASSEMBLY SHUSTERMAN,OF WEBSTER,PENNSYLVANIA KHAN,HOUSE KINSEY,BILL MIHALEK,Session HILL- EVANS, PROBST, BRIGGS, HOHENSTEIN, SCHLOSSBERG, CURRY, PARKER, McANDREW, DONAHUE, SANCHEZ, MERSKI, CERRATO AND DALEY, APRIL 17, 2024 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, APRIL 17, 2024 AN ACT Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of theNo. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in human trafficking, further providing for victim protection during prosecution.
2227 2024 INTRODUCED BY SHUSTERMAN, WEBSTER, KHAN, KINSEY, MIHALEK, HILL- EVANS, PROBST, BRIGGS, HOHENSTEIN, SCHLOSSBERG, CURRY, PARKER, McANDREW, DONAHUE, SANCHEZ, MERSKI, CERRATO, DALEY AND HANBIDGE, APRIL 17, 2024 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 29, 2024 AN ACT Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in human trafficking, further providing for victim protection during prosecution.
Section 3019(b) and (d)(1)(d)(1), (D) AND (F) of Title <-- 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
* * * (d) Motion to vacate conviction.-- (1) An individual convicted under section 3503 (relating to criminal trespass), 3922 (RELATING TO THEFT BY DECEPTION), <-- 3929 (RELATING TO RETAIL THEFT), 4105 (RELATING TO BAD CHECKS), 5503 (relating to disorderly conduct), 5506 (relating to loitering and prowling at night time), 5507 (relating to obstructing highways and other public passages) or 5902 (relating to prostitution and related offenses) or an offense for simple possession of a controlled substance committedOR asAN a<-- directORDER resultOF ofCONTEMPT beingUNDER a42 victimPA.C.S. of human trafficking may file a motion to vacate the conviction.
§ 4132 (RELATING TO ATTACHMENT AND SUMMARY PUNISHMENT FOR CONTEMPTS) RESULTING FROM ANY OF THE ABOVE committed as a direct result of being a victim of human trafficking may file a motion to vacate the conviction.
* * * <-- (2) IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED, A MOTION UNDER THIS <-- SUBSECTION MUST:
(I) BE IN WRITING.
(II) [BE CONSENTED TO BY] PROVIDE PROOF OF NOTICE TO THE ATTORNEY FOR THE COMMONWEALTH.
(III) DESCRIBE THE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE WITH PARTICULARITY.
(IV) INCLUDE COPIES OF ANY DOCUMENTS SHOWING THAT THE MOVING PARTY IS ENTITLED TO RELIEF UNDER THIS SECTION.
20240HB2227PN3004 - 2 - * * * (F) GRANT OF MOTION.--THE COURT SHALL GRANT THE MOTION IF IT FINDS THAT:
(1) THE MOVING PARTY WAS CONVICTED OF AN OFFENSE DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (D)(1).
(2) THE MOVING PARTY DEMONSTRATES BY A PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE THAT THE CONVICTION WAS OBTAINED AS A RESULT OF THE MOVING PARTY'S HAVING BEEN A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
20240HB2227PN297520240HB2227PN3004 - 23 -
Action History
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Laid on the table
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First consideration
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Reported as amended
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Referred to Judiciary
Sponsors
- Melissa L. Shusterman · Primary
- Joe Webster · Cosponsor
- Tarik Khan · Cosponsor
- Natalie Mihalek · Cosponsor
- Carol Hill-Evans · Cosponsor
- Tarah Probst · Cosponsor
- Tim Briggs · Cosponsor
- Gina H. Curry · Cosponsor
- Darisha K. Parker · Cosponsor
- Joe McAndrew · Cosponsor
- Kyle Donahue · Cosponsor
- Melissa Cerrato · Cosponsor
- Mary Jo Daley · Cosponsor
- Liz Hanbidge · Cosponsor
- G. Roni Green · Cosponsor
- Robert E. Merski · Cosponsor
- Benjamin V. Sanchez · Cosponsor
- Joseph C. Hohenstein · Cosponsor
- Michael H. Schlossberg · Cosponsor
- Stephen Kinsey · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 19 co-sponsors · 233 not signed on · 11 voted No
Sponsors (1)
- Melissa L. Shusterman Democratic
Co-sponsors (19)
- Joe Webster Democratic
- Tarik Khan Democratic
- Natalie Mihalek Republican
- Carol Hill-Evans Democratic
- Tarah Probst Democratic
- Tim Briggs Democratic
- Gina H. Curry Democratic
- Darisha K. Parker Democratic
- Joe McAndrew Democratic
- Kyle Donahue Democratic
- Melissa Cerrato Democratic
- Mary Jo Daley Democratic
- Liz Hanbidge Democratic
- G. Roni Green Democratic
- Robert E. Merski Democratic
- Benjamin V. Sanchez Democratic
- Joseph C. Hohenstein Democratic
- Michael H. Schlossberg Democratic
- Stephen Kinsey
Not signed on (233)
233 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 233 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 14 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 56% | 44% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (25)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Schemel | — | Nay |
| Stephenie Scialabba | — | Nay |
| Torren Ecker | — | Nay |
| Benjamin V. Sanchez | Democratic | Yea |
| Chris Pielli | Democratic | Yea |
| Christopher M. Rabb | Democratic | Yea |
| Dan K. Williams | Democratic | Yea |
| Emily Kinkead | Democratic | Yea |
| Joseph C. Hohenstein | Democratic | Yea |
| Kristine C. Howard | Democratic | Yea |
| Kyle Donahue | Democratic | Yea |
| La'Tasha D. Mayes | Democratic | Yea |
| Liz Hanbidge | Democratic | Yea |
| Malcolm Kenyatta | Democratic | Yea |
| Melissa L. Shusterman | Democratic | Yea |
| Perry S. Warren | Democratic | Yea |
| Tim Briggs | Democratic | Yea |
| Clint Owlett | Republican | Nay |
| David H. Rowe | Republican | Nay |
| Jim Rigby | Republican | Nay |
| Joe Hamm | Republican | Nay |
| Kate A. Klunk | Republican | Nay |
| Rob W. Kauffman | Republican | Nay |
| Robert Leadbeter | Republican | Nay |
| Timothy R. Bonner | Republican | Nay |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 14 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 56% | 44% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (25)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Schemel | — | Nay |
| Stephenie Scialabba | — | Nay |
| Torren Ecker | — | Nay |
| Benjamin V. Sanchez | Democratic | Yea |
| Chris Pielli | Democratic | Yea |
| Christopher M. Rabb | Democratic | Yea |
| Dan K. Williams | Democratic | Yea |
| Emily Kinkead | Democratic | Yea |
| Joseph C. Hohenstein | Democratic | Yea |
| Kristine C. Howard | Democratic | Yea |
| Kyle Donahue | Democratic | Yea |
| La'Tasha D. Mayes | Democratic | Yea |
| Liz Hanbidge | Democratic | Yea |
| Malcolm Kenyatta | Democratic | Yea |
| Melissa L. Shusterman | Democratic | Yea |
| Perry S. Warren | Democratic | Yea |
| Tim Briggs | Democratic | Yea |
| Clint Owlett | Republican | Nay |
| David H. Rowe | Republican | Nay |
| Jim Rigby | Republican | Nay |
| Joe Hamm | Republican | Nay |
| Kate A. Klunk | Republican | Nay |
| Rob W. Kauffman | Republican | Nay |
| Robert Leadbeter | Republican | Nay |
| Timothy R. Bonner | Republican | Nay |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors HB 2227?
- HB 2227 is sponsored by Melissa L. Shusterman (Democratic), Joe Webster (Democratic), Tarik Khan (Democratic), Natalie Mihalek (Republican), Carol Hill-Evans (Democratic), Tarah Probst (Democratic), Tim Briggs (Democratic), Gina H. Curry (Democratic), Darisha K. Parker (Democratic), Joe McAndrew (Democratic), Kyle Donahue (Democratic), Melissa Cerrato (Democratic), Mary Jo Daley (Democratic), Liz Hanbidge (Democratic), G. Roni Green (Democratic), Robert E. Merski (Democratic), Benjamin V. Sanchez (Democratic), Joseph C. Hohenstein (Democratic), Michael H. Schlossberg (Democratic), and Stephen Kinsey.
- What is the current status of HB 2227?
- This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
- Where can I track HB 2227?
- Track HB 2227 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously
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