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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Phyllis Mundy |
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Mundy subpoena proposal to become law
HARRISBURG, Oct. 9 – Legislation authored by state Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-Luzerne, that would require parents to be notified if their child is subpoenaed to appear in court passed the House this week and will go to the governor for his signature.
Mundy's legislation (H.B. 301), which prompted the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to adopt changes to its juvenile court proceeding rules, will put into law new requirements that parents, guardians or legal custodians be included in the legal process and receive a copy of subpoenas involving a child in their care.
Mundy authored the legislation following the arrest of a Luzerne County boy whose mother was not notified when her son was subpoenaed to testify about an incident he witnessed on school grounds. Police later arrested the boy during school and placed him in a juvenile detention center for failing to appear at the hearing. Authorities also failed to notify the mother when they issued the warrant for the boy’s arrest.
"Children are the responsibility of their parents," Mundy said. "The mother involved in this case asserted that had she been notified of her son’s subpoena and the hearing date, she would have ensured his attendance.
"It will now be the law in Pennsylvania to include parents and guardians of juveniles in the legal process," Mundy said.
Mundy said the bill was amended in the state Senate to, among other things, strengthen and clarify registration requirements under Pennsylvania Megan's Law.
Currently, individuals are required to register as a sex offender if they commit or attempt to commit offenses ranging from rape to kidnapping. The new language requires individuals convicted of conspiring or soliciting any of these crimes to register. Also, the offense of luring a child into a structure is added to the list of crimes which require registration on the Megan's Law list.
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