The Pa. Senate and House Judiciary Committees will consider this week several bills that would expand crime victims’ rights and establish charges for “sextortion” and possession of “skimmers.”
The House Judiciary Committee will begin hearing about the proposed legislation Tuesday.
Among the bills for consideration are:
- House Bill 2324 would expand the rape shield law, so that testimony of an individual’s prior rape/sex assault victimization would not be allowed in court.
- Senate Bill 1011, also known as Marsy’s Law, would create a Constitutional amendment to ensure victims’ rights.
- SB 1134 would create a crime for “sextortion,” when an offender offers a reward or threatens harm in exchange for a sexual act or photo. There have also been cases when an offender has a revealing photo of a person and threatens to publicize the photo if they do not receive something in return.
- HB 1918 would make it illegal for anyone to possess or use a “skimming” device, more and more commonly being used to obtain a victim’s bank/credit account information, often from an ATM receptacle or at a gas pump payment station.
For more details on the bills and their potential impact, read the attached release from the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright