Bill > SB123

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Protection from Abuse (PFA) law by adding provisions for electronic monitoring devices in domestic violence cases. The bill defines an electronic monitoring device as a GPS-enabled tracking device that continuously monitors a person's location within a 100-mile radius, can be worn on the wrist or ankle, cannot be removed without specialized equipment, and allows law enforcement to securely and confidentially retain location data indefinitely. In protection from abuse orders, courts may now require defendants who present a substantial risk of violating the order or committing a crime to wear such a device. The electronic monitoring will track the defendant's location relative to protected persons and specific locations, and the device must be worn for the entire duration of the protection order, unless the court finds good cause to remove it. If the device is removed, the court must notify the protected plaintiff. The new law will take effect 60 days after passage, providing a new tool for protecting victims of domestic abuse by providing real-time location tracking of potential offenders.