2022 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Act 165 - CRIMES CODE (18 PA.C.S.) - ENDANGERMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIAL

Session of 2022

No. 2022-165

HB 1546

AN ACT

Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, providing for the offense of endangerment of public safety official.

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

Section 1.  Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

§ 2719.  Endangerment of public safety official.

(a)  Endangerment of public safety official.--A person commits the offense of endangering a public safety official if the person intentionally or knowingly communicates, or publishes through an electronic social media service, the restricted personal information of a public safety official or a family or household member of a public safety official with:

(1)  reckless disregard that the restricted personal information will be used to threaten, intimidate or facilitate the commission of a crime against the public safety official or a family or household member of the public safety official; or

(2)  the intent that the restricted personal information will be used to threaten, intimidate or facilitate the commission of a crime against the public safety official or a family or household member of the public safety official.

(b)  Grading.--

(1)  Except as provided under paragraph (2), an offense under subsection (a) shall constitute a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(2)  An offense under subsection (a) that results in bodily injury to a public safety official or a family or household member of a public safety official shall constitute a felony of the second degree.

(c)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Communicate."  Convey a message by oral, nonverbal, written or electronic means, including telephone, electronic mail, Internet, facsimile, telex, wireless communication or similar transmission.

"Family or household member."  Spouses or persons who have been spouses, persons living as spouses or who lived as spouses, parents, children, other persons related by consanguinity or affinity, current or former sexual or intimate partners or persons who share biological parenthood.

"Public safety official."  An individual listed under section 2702(c) (relating to aggravated assault).

"Restricted personal information."  An individual's image, name, Social Security number, home address, home phone number, mobile phone number, personal email or home fax number.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 90 days.

APPROVED--The 17th day of November, A.D. 2022.

TOM WOLF