Pennsylvania Act 2017-51 — CRIME VICTIMS ACT - COMMITTEE

Act text

Session of 2017

No. 2017-51

SB 260

AN ACT

Amending the act of November 24, 1998 (P.L.882, No.111), entitled "An act providing for victims' rights; imposing penalties; establishing remedies; establishing the Office of Victim Advocate, the Bureau of Victims' Services, the Victims' Services Advisory Committee, the State Offender Supervision Fund and other funds; and making repeals," in administration, further providing for committee.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 321(b) of the act of November 24, 1998 (P.L.882, No.111), known as the Crime Victims Act, is amended to read and (c) is carried without amendment:

Section 321. Committee.

---

(b) Membership.--The committee shall consist of [15] the following members:

(1) The Secretary of Aging or a designee.

(2) The Secretary of Corrections or a designee.

(3) The Secretary of [Public Welfare] Human Services or a designee.

(4) The Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police or a designee .

(5) The victim advocate.

(6) A district attorney appointed by the Governor.

(7) [Nine individuals appointed by the Governor.

Members under this paragraph must represent direct victims, Statewide victims' coalitions, prosecution-based victim/witness programs and other victim service or victim advocacy organizations, the courts, members of local government and other victims' organizations or organizations involved in the coordination or delivery of services to direct victims. At least one of the Governor's appointees must be a representative of a victims' services agency working directly with children.] The following individuals appointed by the Governor, each of whom shall be or represent one of the following:

(i) A direct victim of crime representing female victims.

(ii) A direct victim of crime representing male victims.

(iii) An area agency on aging.

(iv) The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

(v) The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.

(vi) The Pennsylvania Chapter of Children's Advocacy Centers and Multidisciplinary Teams.

(vii) The Pennsylvania Court Appointed Special Advocates Association.

(viii) A county children and youth agency.

(ix) A prosecution-based victim witness program.

(x) A victims' service or advocacy organization.

(xi) The courts.

(xii) County government.

(xiii) The executive director of the Juvenile Court Judges Commission.

(xiv) A children's advocacy center or victims' services agency working directly with children.

(xv) Local law enforcement.

(xvi) A mental health treatment provider or mental health advocate.

(xvii) A disabilities treatment provider or disabilities advocate.

(xviii) A victims' services agency working directly with victims of human trafficking.

(xix) A comprehensive victim service agency.

(c) Terms.--A member under subsection (b)(1) through (5) shall serve ex officio. A member under subsection (b)(6) or (7) shall serve for a four-year term and may be appointed for no more than one additional consecutive term.

---

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 30th day of October, A.D. 2017.

TOM WOLF