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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Ruth
A. Myers |
State Rep. Phyllis
Mundy |
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Mundy bill would require parental notification of child subpoenas
HARRISBURG, March 13 – A bill introduced by state Rep. Phyllis Mundy that would require parents to be notified if their child is subpoenaed to appear in court was moved out of the House Judiciary Committee today.
“Parents or a legal guardian should be notified when the minor they are responsible for is ordered to appear in court,” Mundy said. “Should a child forget or choose not to tell his or her parents about it, it could result in a delay in legal proceedings. Just as parents are expected to make sure their child is in school and receives proper medical care, those same expectations should apply to the legal system.”
Under current law, only the person receiving the subpoena is required to know about it. Mundy’s proposal would require that parents, guardians or legal custodians also be served with a copy of the document.
Mundy said the legislation (H.B. 301) was initiated after she heard about a 13-year-old boy who was taken out of school by police and taken to a juvenile detention center when he failed to show up to testify about an incident that he witnessed on school grounds. His mother was not notified about the subpoena, nor was she notified when police pulled him out of class.
“I’m concerned that police can whisk a child away without the parents knowing where their child is and why,” Mundy said. “It’s traumatic for the child, the parent, and it’s a situation that can be avoided in the future with this legislation.”
The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.
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