Bill > HB940

This bill modifies the definition of "sexual abuse or exploitation" in Pennsylvania's child protective services law by expanding and updating the list of offenses that constitute sexual abuse or exploitation. The bill adds two new offenses to the definition: trafficking in individuals and involuntary servitude, both referenced from the Pennsylvania Crimes Code. The existing definition already includes a wide range of sexually abusive behaviors, such as coercing a child to engage in sexually explicit conduct, participating in sexually explicit conversations, or producing sexual imagery. The bill maintains an existing provision that excludes consensual activities between children who are 14 or older and within four years of each other's age. The updated definition continues to reference numerous specific sexual offenses from the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, including rape, sexual assault, indecent assault, and sexual exploitation, thereby providing a comprehensive framework for identifying and addressing sexual abuse of children. The bill will take effect 60 days after its enactment, giving state agencies and legal professionals time to adjust to the updated definition.

Justice

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=940