Bill > HB983

This bill establishes a Gun Violence Task Force in first-class cities (which are typically large urban areas like Philadelphia) to investigate and prosecute firearms-related offenses. The task force will be under the Attorney General's authority and will include members from various law enforcement agencies, such as state police, local city police, and potentially federal law enforcement officers. The bill gives the Attorney General significant prosecutorial discretion to take over cases involving firearms violations, with the ability to choose which cases to prosecute based on factors like the severity of the offense, the offender's criminal history, and community impact. The task force will be responsible for investigating violations related to firearm possession and sales, and will be required to submit annual reports to legislative committees detailing their activities, including the number of arrests, prosecutions, convictions, and firearms seized. The bill also extends the timeframe for prosecuting certain firearms-related cases, modifying previous time limitations to allow prosecutions after September 2, 2021, and up to December 31, 2026. The new provisions will take effect 90 days after passage, with other aspects of the bill taking immediate effect.

Justice

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=983