Pennsylvania 2019-2020 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 10 D · 6 R cosponsors

SB 337 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sexual offenses, providing for the offense of sexual extortion.

Last action — Laid on the table (Pursuant to Senate Rule 9)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2019-2020 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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment.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

102 added · 100 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amended bill SB 337 changes the language to specify "individual" instead of "person," making it clearer that the law applies to individuals specifically. It also removes some language that previously suggested different grading levels for violations. This simplification helps streamline the legal wording and ensures that all individuals are equally protected under the law against acts that exploit or threaten them, which is crucial for upholding individual rights and safety in cases of sexual conduct and image sharing.

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PRINTER'S NO.
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
319 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
319 PRINTER'S NO.
506 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
WARD, FEBRUARY 26, 2019 REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019 AN ACT Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sexual offenses, providing for the offense of sexual extortion.
WARD, FEBRUARY 26, 2019 SENATOR BAKER, JUDICIARY, AS AMENDED, MARCH 27, 2019 AN ACT Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sexual offenses, providing for the offense of sexual extortion.
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits the offense of sexual extortion when the person intentionally or knowingly coerces or causes another person to engage in sexual conduct or simulated sexual conduct or to produce, disseminate or distribute an image, video or other recording of another person in a state of nudity or engaged in sexual conduct or simulated sexual conduct by:
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits the offense of sexual extortion when the person intentionally or knowingly coerces or causes another person AN INDIVIDUAL to engage in sexual conduct <-- or simulated sexual conduct or to produce, disseminate or distribute an image, video or other recording of another person <-- THE INDIVIDUAL in a state of nudity or engaged in sexual conduct <-- or simulated sexual conduct by:
(1) harming or threatening to harm the person, property, reputation or other thing of value of the other person;
(1) harming or threatening to harm the person, property, reputation or other thing of value of the other person <-- INDIVIDUAL;
(2) distributing, disseminating or threatening to distribute or disseminate an image, video or other recording of the other person in a state of nudity or engaged in sexual conduct or simulated sexual conduct;
<-- (2) distributing, disseminating or threatening to distribute or disseminate an image, video or other recording of the other person INDIVIDUAL in a state of nudity or <-- engaged in sexual conduct or simulated sexual conduct;
(3) exposing or threatening to expose any fact of information that if revealed would tend to subject the other person to criminal proceedings, hatred, contempt or ridicule;
(3) exposing or threatening to expose any fact of information that if revealed would tend to subject the other <-- person INDIVIDUAL to criminal proceedings, hatred, contempt <-- or ridicule;
(c) Sentencing.--The Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, in accordance with 42 Pa.C.S.
(c) Sentencing.--The Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, 20190SB0337PN0506 - 2 - in accordance with 42 Pa.C.S.
§ 2154 (relating to adoption of 20190SB0337PN0319 - 2 - guidelines for sentencing), shall provide for a sentence enhancement within its guidelines for an offense under this section when at the time of the offense the victim is less than 18 years of age, has an intellectual disability or the person holds a position of trust or supervisory or disciplinary power over the victim by virtue of the person's legal, professional or occupational status.
§ 2154 (relating to adoption of guidelines for sentencing), shall provide for a sentence enhancement within its guidelines for an offense under this section when at the time of the offense the victim is less than 18 years of age, has an intellectual disability or the person holds a position of trust or supervisory or disciplinary power over the victim by virtue of the person's legal, professional or occupational status.
Acts indicating a course of conduct that occur in more than one jurisdiction may be used by any other jurisdiction in which an act occurred as evidence of a continuing pattern of conduct or a course of conduct.
Acts indicating a course of conduct that occur in more than one jurisdiction may be used by any other jurisdiction in which an act occurred as evidence of a 20190SB0337PN0506 - 3 - continuing pattern of conduct or a course of conduct.
20190SB0337PN0319 - 3 - "Disseminate." To cause or make an electronic or actual communication from one place or electronic communication device to two or more other persons, places or electronic communication devices.
"Disseminate." To cause or make an electronic or actual communication from one place or electronic communication device to two or more other persons, places or electronic communication devices.
20190SB0337PN0319 - 4 -
20190SB0337PN0506 - 4 -
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Amendments

1 amendment

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Action History

  1. Laid on the table (Pursuant to Senate Rule 9)

  2. Removed from table

  3. Laid on the table

  4. Removed from table

  5. Laid on the table

  6. First consideration

  7. PN 0506 Reported as amended

  8. PN 0319 Referred to JUDICIARY

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 27 co-sponsors · 225 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (27)

Not signed on (225)

225 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Committee vote (JUDICIARY): Reported as Amended

Passed 12 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 4001
Democratic 3000
Unaffiliated 5000
Total 12001
% of votes cast 92%0%0%8%
How each member voted (13)
Member Party Vote
FARNESE — Yea
GORDNER — Yea
REGAN — Yea
SABATINA — Yea
SCARNATI — Yea
Art Haywood Democratic Yea
Maria Collett Democratic Yea
Steven J. Santarsiero Democratic Yea
Camera Bartolotta Republican Yea
Gene Yaw Republican Not Voting
Lisa Baker Republican Yea
Scott Martin Republican Yea
Wayne Langerholc Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 337?
SB 337 is sponsored by Anthony H. Williams (Democratic), Judy Ward (Republican), Steven J. Santarsiero (Democratic), Kim L. Ward (Republican), Judith L. Schwank (Democratic), Wayne Langerholc (Republican), Kristin Phillips-Hill (Republican), Katie J. Muth (Democratic), Wayne D. Fontana (Democratic), Brewster, Farnese, Scott Martin (Republican), Art Haywood (Democratic), Vincent J. Hughes (Democratic), Mensch, Alloway, White, Browne, Yudichak, Killion, Blake, Christine M. Tartaglione (Democratic), Sabatina, Timothy P. Kearney (Democratic), Doug Mastriano (Republican), Iovino, Dinniman, and Jay Costa (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 337?
This bill died with 2019-2020 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 SB 337?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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