Bill > HB2018

This bill establishes a comprehensive Domestic Violence Fatality Review Program in Pennsylvania to investigate and analyze domestic violence-related deaths. The program creates a statewide Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board and local review teams composed of multidisciplinary professionals like law enforcement, medical experts, and victim advocates. These teams will gather and analyze information about domestic violence fatalities, identify systemic gaps, and recommend improvements in prevention, intervention, and investigation efforts. The bill allows criminal justice agencies to disclose various types of confidential information (such as criminal history, medical records, and investigative reports) to review teams and the board when investigating domestic violence-related fatalities. The board will be required to produce an annual public report with findings and recommendations, while maintaining strict confidentiality about individual victims and perpetrators. Members of the review teams and board will be immune from civil liability and must sign confidentiality agreements. Importantly, the bill defines a "domestic violence-related fatality" broadly to include deaths of victims, perpetrators, family members, partners, or bystanders, and establishes that review teams can only examine cases where criminal proceedings have been closed or no charges will be filed. Violations of the confidentiality provisions will be considered a summary offense.

Justice

https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb2018