SB 665 — An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for Safe Exchange Zone Program.

PRINTER'S NO.   688

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 665
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY LANGERHOLC, PHILLIPS-HILL, STEFANO, VOGEL, DUSH,
        COSTA, MASTRIANO, TARTAGLIONE, FONTANA AND MILLER,
        APRIL 28, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
        APRIL 28, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, providing for Safe Exchange Zone
 3      Program.
 4      This act may be referred to as the Denise Williams Act.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.    Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 8   Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
 9                                  CHAPTER 62
10                          SAFE EXCHANGE ZONE PROGRAM
11   Sec.
12   6201.   Scope of chapter.
13   6202.   Definitions.
14   6203.   Legislative purpose.
15   6204.   Safe Exchange Zone Program.
16   § 6201.   Scope of chapter.
17      This chapter relates to the Safe Exchange Zone Program.
 1   § 6202.   Definitions.
 2      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
 3   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
 4   context clearly indicates otherwise:
 5      "County."    A county of any class.
 6      "Department."    The Department of Community and Economic
 7   Development of the Commonwealth.
 8      "Municipality."    A county, city, borough, incorporated town,
 9   township or home rule, optional plan or optional charter
10   municipality or municipal authority in this Commonwealth and any
11   entity formed under Subchapter A of Chapter 23 (relating to
12   intergovernmental cooperation).
13      "Participant."    An individual utilizing a safe exchange zone.
14      "Participating entity."    A local police department, a county
15   sheriff or the Pennsylvania State Police.
16      "Program."   The Safe Exchange Zone Program established under
17   section 6204(a) (relating to Safe Exchange Zone Program).
18      "Safe exchange zone."    A place that meets the requirements
19   under section 6204(e)(1)(iii).
20   § 6203.   Legislative purpose.
21      The purpose of this chapter is to establish safe public
22   locations for participants to exchange goods purchased online
23   and for child custody exchanges through the distribution of
24   grant money to municipalities.
25   § 6204.   Safe Exchange Zone Program.
26      (a)    Establishment.--The Safe Exchange Zone Program is
27   established within the department.
28      (b)    Eligibility.--Municipalities may apply for a one-time
29   grant under the program to establish safe exchange zones at a
30   participating entity's office or barracks or in a public area.

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 1      (c)   Application.--The department shall generate an
 2   application upon which municipalities may apply for a grant
 3   under the program. The form shall indicate the cost of
 4   establishing a safe exchange zone, the location, the approval of
 5   a participating entity to assist with the safe exchange zone,
 6   the approval from another municipality, if applicable, and any
 7   additional information the department deems necessary.
 8      (d)   Duty of department.--The department shall approve or
 9   deny an application under subsection (b) within 30 days of
10   receipt of the application. Upon approval of an application, the
11   department shall disburse the grant money as provided under
12   subsection (h).
13      (e)   Safe exchange zone requirements and assignment of
14   responsibility.--
15            (1)   Safe exchange zones:
16                  (i)    Shall have an appropriate video surveillance
17            system to observe all areas of the safe exchange zone.
18                  (ii)    Shall be clearly indicated with proper signage
19            that displays the participating entity's telephone number
20            and "in case of an emergency dial 911."
21                  (iii)    May only be placed:
22                         (A)   within 100 feet of a local police
23                  department's office;
24                         (B)   within 100 feet of a county sheriff's
25                  office;
26                         (C)   within 100 feet of a State Trooper barracks;
27                  or
28                         (D)   within 100 feet of a public park, county
29                  courthouse, local magistrate's office, municipal
30                  office or other public area that has an active public

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 1                   presence, as approved by the department.
 2                   (iv)   Must be on public land under the jurisdiction
 3             or ownership of the applicant municipality unless
 4             otherwise approved by the governing body of ownership of
 5             the public land.
 6             (2)   If the municipality seeks to establish a safe
 7      exchange zone under paragraph (1)(iii)(A), the participating
 8      entity shall be the local police department.
 9             (3)   If the municipality seeks to establish a safe
10      exchange zone under paragraph (1)(iii)(B), the participating
11      entity shall be the county sheriff.
12             (4)   If the municipality seeks to establish a safe
13      exchange zone under paragraph (1)(iii)(C), the participating
14      entity shall be the Pennsylvania State Police.
15             (5)   If the municipality seeks to establish a safe
16      exchange zone under paragraph (1)(iii)(D), the video
17      surveillance requirement under subsection (g) shall be the
18      responsibility of the participating entity that has agreed to
19      assist with the safe exchange zone.
20      (f)    Participating entity requirements.--A participating
21   entity:
22             (1)   Shall adequately monitor the video surveillance
23      system required under subsection (e)(1)(i) for activity that
24      endangers participants or the public in accordance with
25      subsection (g).
26             (2)   Must ensure that participants have the ability to
27      notify the participating entity of the need for assistance by
28      displaying the appropriate contact information as required
29      under subsection (e)(1)(ii).
30             (3)   If a participant notifies a participating entity

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 1      under paragraph (2), shall properly assist the participant in
 2      accordance with the guidelines established under subsection
 3      (g) and ensure that the exchange does not present a danger to
 4      the participant or the public.
 5            (4)   During examination of the video surveillance, may
 6      not interfere with an exchange unless it presents a clear and
 7      present danger to the participating entity, a participant or
 8      the public or unless the participating entity's assistance is
 9      requested by a participant under paragraph (2).
10      (g)   Guidelines and procedures.--In consultation with
11   participating entities, the department shall establish
12   guidelines and procedures for the adequate monitoring and
13   retention of video surveillance required under subsection (f)(1)
14   and for surveillance measures necessary to keep participants and
15   the public safe. The guidelines and procedures may not infringe
16   on the rights of the participants of the exchange enumerated in
17   the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.
18      (h)   Priority of award.--Priority shall be given to
19   municipalities awarded a grant under this section in the
20   following order:
21            (1)   Municipalities seeking to establish safe exchange
22      zones within 100 feet of a local police department, county
23      sheriff's office or State Trooper barrack.
24            (2)   Municipalities seeking to establish safe exchange
25      zones in a public area under the jurisdiction or ownership of
26      the applicant municipality unless otherwise approved by the
27      governing body of ownership of the public land.
28      (i)   Disbursement of money.--The Secretary of Community and
29   Economic Development shall ensure that the grant money awarded
30   under this section is geographically disbursed throughout this

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 1   Commonwealth.
 2      (j)    Use and audit.--Grant money must be used exclusively for
 3   the purpose of establishing a safe exchange zone and is subject
 4   to audit by the department and the Auditor General.
 5      (k)    Liability limited.--The following entities may not be
 6   held liable or in breach or violation of any law or standard for
 7   the conduct of participants in a safe exchange zone established
 8   under this chapter:
 9             (1)   The municipality that established the safe exchange
10      zone.
11             (2)   The participating entity assigned responsibility for
12      the safe exchange zone under subsection (e)(2), (3), (4) or
13      (5).
14             (3)   The department.
15             (4)   The county in which the municipality that
16      established the safe exchange zone is located.
17      Section 2.     This act shall take effect in 180 days.




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