THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY STERN, PHILLIPS, READSHAW, VULAKOVICH, BOYD, GEIST, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, HARHART, HENNESSEY, KAUFFMAN, KNOWLES, MURT, SCAVELLO, SONNEY, SWANGER, THOMAS, WATSON AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 10, 2010

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JUNE 10, 2010  

AN ACT

Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, providing for possession of explosive

components.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

§ 2715.1.  Possession of explosive components.

(a)  General rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision of

law, any person who, without lawful authority, intentionally,

knowingly or recklessly possesses explosive or incendiary

components commits a felony of the third degree.

(b)  Definitions.--The following words and phrases when used

in this section shall have the meanings given to them in this

subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Explosive or incendiary component."  A substance or material

or combination thereof which has been prepared or altered for

use in the creation of a weapon of mass destruction, including,

but not limited to, the following:

(1)  A timing device, clock or watch altered in such a

manner as to be used as the arming or initiation component of

any weapon of mass destruction.

(2)  A pipe, end cap or metal tubing prepared for use as

any weapon of mass destruction.

(3)  Any method of mechanical, chemical, electrical or

commercial timer, trigger or delay or commercially made or

improvised items which, when used singly or in combination,

may be used in the construction of a timing, delay or

activating mechanism or booby trap for any weapon of mass

destruction.

The term does not include ammunition for lawful use in a

firearm, as defined in section 6105(i) (relating to persons not

to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer

firearms) or any and all materials or components lawfully used

in shooting sports, hunting, handloading or reloading of

ammunition.

"Weapon of mass destruction."  A bomb, biological agent,

chemical agent or nuclear agent.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.