HB 642 — An Act amending Title 58 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in development, further providing for penalties.

PRINTER'S NO.   652

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 642
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY HOWARD, GIRAL, PIELLI, HILL-EVANS, GUENST, KHAN
        AND MADDEN, FEBRUARY 20, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE
        PROTECTION, FEBRUARY 20, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 58 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in development, further providing for penalties.
 3      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 4   hereby enacts as follows:
 5      Section 1.    Section 3255 of Title 58 of the Pennsylvania
 6   Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
 7   § 3255.   Penalties.
 8      (a)    General violation.--A person violating a provision of
 9   this chapter commits a summary offense and, upon conviction,
10   shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than [$1,000]
11   $2,000 or to imprisonment of not more than 90 days, or both.
12   Each day during which the violation continues is a separate and
13   distinct offense.
14      (b)    Willful violation.--A person willfully violating a
15   provision of this chapter or an order of the department issued
16   under this chapter commits a misdemeanor and, upon conviction,
17   shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than [$5,000]
 1   $10,000 or to imprisonment of not more than one year, or both.
 2   Each day during which the violation continues is a separate and
 3   distinct offense.
 4      (c)   Authority.--
 5            (1)   The department may institute a prosecution against
 6      any person or municipality for a violation of this chapter.
 7            (2)   The Office of Attorney General under the act of
 8      October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the Commonwealth
 9      Attorneys Act, or the district attorney of the affected
10      county may institute a criminal proceeding against a person
11      under subsection (a) or (b).
12      (d)   Prohibition.--The department may not waive a fine for a
13   general violation under subsection (a) or a willful violation
14   under subsection (b).
15      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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