PRINTER'S NO. 333
No. 312 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY GRELL, ARMSTRONG, BAKER, BARRAR, BELFANTI, BOYD,
BROWNE, BUNT, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, CLYMER, J. EVANS,
FREEMAN, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOOD, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARRIS,
HICKERNELL, W. KELLER, MARSICO, MILLARD, NAILOR, PAYNE,
PHILLIPS, REICHLEY, ROSS, SEMMEL, B. SMITH, STABACK, STERN,
E. Z. TAYLOR, TIGUE, WILT, YOUNGBLOOD, ZUG, S. MILLER,
FRANKEL AND MANN, FEBRUARY 8, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 8, 2005
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for the offense of hindering
3 prosecution for an act of terrorism.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
8 § 2717. Hindering prosecution for terrorism.
9 (a) Offense.--A person commits the offense of hindering
10 prosecution for terrorism if he renders criminal assistance to a
11 person who has committed terrorism, knowing or believing that
12 such person engaged in conduct constituting terrorism.
13 (b) Grading.--If the terrorism resulted in the death of a
14 person other than one of the participants, an offense under this
15 section is a felony of the second degree; otherwise, an offense
16 under this section is a felony of the third degree.
1 (c) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
2 words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
3 subsection:
4 "Mass destruction." An act which is intended to or likely to
5 destroy or cause serious damage to transportation-related
6 infrastructure or facilities, energy-related infrastructure or
7 facilities, public or private buildings, places of public
8 accommodation or public works under circumstances evincing
9 depraved indifference to human life or property.
10 "Renders criminal assistance." With the intent to prevent,
11 hinder or delay the discovery or apprehension of, or the
12 bringing of a criminal charge against, a person who he knows or
13 believes has committed an act of terrorism, or is being sought
14 by law enforcement officials for the commission of an act of
15 terrorism, or with intent to assist a person in profiting or
16 benefiting from the commission of an act of terrorism, he:
17 (1) harbors or conceals such person;
18 (2) warns such person of impending discovery or
19 apprehension;
20 (3) provides such person with money, transportation,
21 weapon, disguise or other means of avoiding discovery or
22 apprehension;
23 (4) prevents or obstructs, by means of force,
24 intimidation or deception, anyone from performing an act
25 which might aid in the discovery or apprehension of such
26 person or in the bringing of a criminal charge against him;
27 or
28 (5) suppresses, by any act of concealment, alteration or
29 destruction, any physical evidence which might aid in the
30 discovery or apprehension of such person or in the bringing
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1 of a criminal charge against him.
2 "Terrorism." Any act intended to:
3 (1) Intimidate or coerce a civilian population by
4 violence or threat of violence.
5 (2) Influence the policy of a unit of government by
6 intimidation or coercion by violence or threat of violence.
7 (3) Affect the conduct of a government by mass
8 destruction, assassination or kidnapping.
9 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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