Area Votes: House Amends Mandatory Sentences for Minors

The Pennsylvania House and Senate voted to amend a number of existing bills in its most recent session, including a title that dictates sentences for children convicted of a crime under the age of 16.

Under the house’s approved amendments of the bill, approved on last week, a person under the age of 16 convicted of aggravated assault will face a minimum sentence of two years. Additionally, a child age 13 or below convicted of third degree murder will face at least 13 years of imprisonment.

The house also voted on an amendment to a bill to expand the state definition of “Wild Animals” to include all primates, hedgehogs and chinchillas.

The house also approved an amendment to Senate bill 894 on Thursday that states all township managers over the age of 65 are eligible for township-funded Medicare.

In the Senate, a bill amending the state’s vehicle statues to include information on proper bicycle use on area roads was approved in a 45-5 vote.

Review the bills and how the area’s representatives voted below:

House of Representatives:

HB601: An amendment of the State’s Judiciary and Judicial Procedure statutes that establishes addition mandatory sentences for juvenile offenders, approved in the House 196-1.

• Yes: Joseph Hackett (R-161) and Thomas Killion (R-168)

HB1398: An amendment of the state’s game and wildlife statues to further the definition of “while animal” for permit purposes was approved in the House in 193-0.

•  Yes: Joseph Hackett (R-161) and Thomas Killion (R-168)

SB894: An amendment of a Senate bill that allows for township managers over a certain age to receive Medicare from the townships employing them was approved 188-0

•  Yes: Joseph Hackett (R-161) and Thomas Killion (R-168)

Senate:

HB170: An amendment to a House bill that dictates the proper procedure for bicycles using roadways shared with cars and confirming bicycle rights on area roads was approved 45-5.

• Yes: Edwin Erickson (R-26) and Dominic Pileggi (R-9)