HB 1935 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of terroristic threats.

PRINTER'S NO.   2434

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1935
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY BRIGGS, PIELLI, HILL-EVANS, NEILSON, HANBIDGE,
        SANCHEZ, GALLAGHER, BELLMON AND D. WILLIAMS, OCTOBER 8, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, OCTOBER 8, 2025


                                       AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the
 3      offense of terroristic threats.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.    Section 2706(b) and (e) of Title 18 of the
 7   Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended and the section
 8   is amended by adding a subsection to read:
 9   § 2706.    Terroristic threats.
10      * * *
11      (b)    Restitution.--A person convicted of violating this
12   section shall, in addition to any other sentence imposed or
13   restitution ordered under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9721(c) (relating to
14   sentencing generally), be sentenced to pay restitution in an
15   amount equal to the cost of the evacuation, including, but not
16   limited to, fire and police response; emergency medical service
17   or emergency preparedness response; and transportation of an
18   individual from the building, place of assembly or facility. The
 1   court may also order restitution in an amount equal to the cost
 2   of supplies, equipment and materials, including the salary,
 3   overtime pay or other wages of affected employees and first
 4   responders.
 5      * * *
 6      (d.1)   Sentencing enhancement.--In addition to any minimum
 7   term of imprisonment authorized or established by State law for
 8   an offense under subsection (a), the Pennsylvania Commission on
 9   Sentencing, in accordance with 42 Pa.C.S. § 2154 (relating to
10   adoption of guidelines for sentencing), shall provide for a
11   sentencing enhancement for courts to consider in cases involving
12   a terroristic threat against a school entity or an institution
13   of higher education.
14      (e)   [Definition] Definitions.--[As used in this section, the
15   term "communicates" means conveys in person or by written or
16   electronic means, including telephone, electronic mail,
17   Internet, facsimile, telex and similar transmissions.] As used
18   in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the
19   meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context
20   clearly indicates otherwise:
21      "Communicates."     Conveys in person or by written or
22   electronic means, including telephone, email, Internet,
23   facsimile, telex and similar transmissions.
24      "Institution of higher education."     Any of the following:
25            (1)   A community college operating under Article XIX-A of
26      the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the
27      Public School Code of 1949.
28            (2)   A university within the State System of Higher
29      Education.
30            (3)   The Pennsylvania State University.

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 1          (4)   The University of Pittsburgh.
 2          (5)   Temple University.
 3          (6)   Lincoln University.
 4          (7)   Another institution designated by the Commonwealth
 5      as State-related.
 6          (8)   An accredited private or independent college or
 7      university.
 8          (9)   A private licensed school as defined in section 2 of
 9      the act of December 15, 1986 (P.L.1585, No.174), known as the
10      Private Licensed Schools Act.
11      "School entity."    A public school, including a charter school
12   or a cyber charter school, a private school, a nonpublic school,
13   an intermediate unit or an area career and technical school
14   operating within this Commonwealth.
15      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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