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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2011
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Harrisburg Happenings

A report on the Legislative Session week of September 26, 2011
By Senator Jane C. Orie

40th Senatorial District

Criminal justice reform, cyberbullying bills sent to the House

The Senate approved two bills this week addressing Pennsylvania's justice system. Senate Bill 100, which was unanimously passed on Tuesday, is intended to address prison overcrowding, recidivism, and reduce the high costs of incarceration. It would:

• Establish the Safe Community Reentry Program.  A Department of Corrections initiative to reduce recidivism and ensure the successful reentry and reintegration of offenders into the community.
• Make more non-violent offenders eligible for alternative sentencing programs: county intermediate punishment (CIP), state intermediate punishment (SIP), state motivational boot camp, and the recidivism risk reduction incentive (RRRI).
• Establish a county probation program providing for swift, predictable and immediate sanctions on offenders who violate their probation. Currently, parole violations are often punished with lengthy prison sentences that are costly to taxpayers and fail to reduce recidivism.  Each county would enact their own sanctions.

On Wednesday, we approved Senate Bill 850, a measure that establishes the criminal offense of "cyberbullying and sexting by minors" and grades the offense as a misdemeanor of the third degree.  The bill also provides for the expungement of juvenile records and makes numerous changes to the Juvenile Act in order to protect children involved in cases before a Magisterial District Judge or involved in juvenile court proceedings.

Senate approves bill providing for Valley Forge appointments

The Senate approved Senate Bill 560, legislation creating a new program for legislative appointments to the Valley Forge Military Academy & College (VFMA&C).

VFMA&C is a two-year, transfer program from which almost all students move on to four-year colleges and universities.  Valley Forge is also the only institution in the Northeastern United States offering an Early Commissioning Program, which allows successful candidates to earn a commission as a second lieutenant in the Army in two years rather than the standard four years through ROTC programs at other colleges and universities.

The State Military College Legislative Appointment Initiative Program created under Senate Bill 560 would allow each member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to create a selection committee to recommend an eligible student for enrollment at Valley Forge.  The State Ethics Commission would be charged with developing guidelines to govern the establishment and functions of the selection committee in order to prevent conflicts of interests or other potential ethics violations.

Each of these bills now go to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

CONTACT:

Nate Silcox
(717) 787-6538