Share:
Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2025 - 2026
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 11, 2024 11:22 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Frank A. Farry |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Extending Emergency Protection from Abuse (PFA) Orders |
| In the near future, I intend to reintroduce legislation that would allow local courts to extend the time period for the expiration of emergency PFA relief. Under current law, victims of domestic abuse may seek emergency relief from a Magisterial District Judge after regular business hours. The emergency relief, however, expires at the close of the next business day when the Court of Common Pleas is available. Although the Courts of Common Pleas are open during weekdays, they often schedule PFA hearings for specific days of the week. Presently, in order to maintain emergency relief, the domestic violence victim must return to court multiple times until a final hearing occurs in the Court of Common Pleas. My legislation would allow the Court of Common Pleas to adopt a rule to extend the time period for emergency orders. Under the bill, instead of expiring at the end of the next business day, emergency relief would expire upon the commencement of a hearing in the Court of Common Pleas within 10 business days. A petitioner may still request a temporary order from the Common Pleas Court at any time prior to the final hearing. I strongly believe that this bill would help better facilitate protection orders from abuse for domestic violence victims in communities all throughout the Commonwealth and further build upon the successful efforts we have had in protecting these victims. Please join me in cosponsoring this important legislation. Previous co-sponsors were Senators Santarsiero, Dillon, Brewster, Bartolotta, Dush, Stefano, and Cappelletti. |