PRINTER'S NO. 3878
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2566
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY KIM, FRANKEL, CEPHAS, DAVIS, SCHLOSSBERG,
DONATUCCI, SOLOMON, J. HARRIS, KINSEY, SIMS, HILL-EVANS,
YOUNGBLOOD AND ROEBUCK, JULY 23, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JULY 23, 2018
AN ACT
Amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions relating
to inmate confinement, further providing for healthy birth
for incarcerated women.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 5905 of Title 61 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subsection to read:
§ 5905. Healthy birth for incarcerated women.
* * *
(a.1) Alternative housing.--
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or
department regulation to the contrary, the department shall
establish a family-centered housing unit for prisoners in the
custody of the department who deliver an infant upon
discharge from medical facilities that assist with the
delivery.
(2) A prisoner is eligible for alternative housing under
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
this section if the prisoner:
(i) Is incarcerated for an offense that is not a
crime of violence as defined under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9714(g)
(relating to sentences for second and subsequent
offenses).
(ii) Meets the health, mental health and safety
requirements for placement outside of a correctional
institution as determined by the department.
(3) An eligible prisoner shall be permitted to live with
the infant in the alternative housing facility for a period
of 18 months from the eligible prisoner's discharge from a
medical facility.
(4) The department shall:
(i) provide appropriate child care for the infant
during participation by a prisoner in required treatment,
programs, classes and work assignments;
(ii) provide access to appropriate postnatal care
for prisoners and infants; and
(iii) support mother-infant bonding.
(5) The department shall promulgate rules and
regulations as needed to implement this subsection.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in one year.
20180HB2566PN3878 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23