Pennsylvania Act 1995-28 (session 1) — JUDICIAL CODE (42 PA.C.S.) - AMEND

Act text

JUDICIAL CODE (42 PA.C.S.) - AMEND
        Act of Nov. 17, 1995, Special Session 1, P.L. 1109, No. 28    Cl. 42
                      Special Session No. 1 of 1995
                               No. 1995-28

     SB 34

                                  AN ACT

     Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
        Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, authorizing courts to
        enter orders requiring the presence of parents, guardians or
        custodians at proceedings for juveniles and their
        participation in court-ordered programs.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

        Section 1.  Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
     Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
      § 6310.  Parental participation.
        (a)  General rule.--In any proceeding under this chapter, a
     court may order a parent, guardian or custodian to participate
     in the treatment, supervision or rehabilitation of a child,
     including, but not limited to, community service, restitution,
     counseling, treatment and education programs.
        (b)  Presence at proceedings.--The court may, when the court
     determines that it is in the best interests of the child, order
     a parent, guardian or custodian of a child to be present at and
     to bring the child to any proceeding under this chapter.
        (c)  Contempt.--A person who, without good cause, fails to
     comply with an order issued under this section may be found in
     contempt of court. The court may issue a bench warrant for any
     parent, guardian or custodian who, without good cause, fails to
     appear at any proceeding.
        (d)  Intent.--The General Assembly hereby declares that every
     parent, guardian or custodian of a child who is the subject of a
     proceeding under this chapter and a court-ordered program under
     this chapter should attend the proceeding and participate fully
     in the program.
        (e)  Limitation.--Nothing in this section shall be construed
     to create a right of a child to have his parent, guardian or
     custodian present at a proceeding under this chapter or
     participate in a court-ordered program.
        Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

     APPROVED--The 17th day of November, A. D. 1995.

     THOMAS J. RIDGE