Pennsylvania Act 1997-62 — CRIMES CODE (18 PA.C.S) - AMEND

Act text

CRIMES CODE (18 PA.C.S) - AMEND
                  Act of Dec. 19, 1997, P.L. 615, No. 62              Cl. 18
                             Session of 1997
                               No. 1997-62

     HB 474

                                  AN ACT

     Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
        Consolidated Statutes, defining the offense of unlawful
        contact or communication with minor; and providing for sale
        or illegal use of certain solvents.

        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:
      § 6318.  Unlawful contact or communication with minor.
        (a)  Offense defined.--A person whether within or without
     this Commonwealth commits an offense if he, knowing that he is
     contacting or communicating with a minor within this
     Commonwealth, intentionally contacts or communicates with that
     minor for the purpose of engaging in activity prohibited under
     any of the following:
            (1)  Any of the offenses enumerated in Chapter 31
        (relating to sexual offenses).
            (2)  Open lewdness as defined in section 5901 (relating
        to open lewdness).
            (3)  Prostitution as defined in section 5902 (relating to
        prostitution and related offenses).
            (4)  Obscene and other sexual materials and performances
        as defined in section 5903 (relating to obscene and other
        sexual materials and performances).
            (5)  Sexual abuse of children as defined in section 6312
        (relating to sexual abuse of children).
        (b)  Grading.--A violation of subsection (a) is:
            (1)  an offense of the same grade and degree as the most
        serious underlying offense in subsection (a) for which the
        defendant contacted or communicated with the minor; or
            (2)  a misdemeanor of the first degree;
     whichever is greater.
        (c)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
     words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
     subsection:
        "Contacts or communicates with."  Direct or indirect contact
     or communication by any means, method or device, including
     contact or communication in person or through an agent or
     agency, through any print medium, the mails, a common carrier or
     communication common carrier, any electronic communication
     system and any telecommunications, wire, computer or radio
     communications device or system.
        "Minor."  An individual under 18 years of age.
        Section 2.  Section 7303(f) of Title 18 is amended to read:
      § 7303.  Sale or illegal use of certain solvents.
        * * *
        (f)  Definition.--As used in this section, the phrase "any
     substance containing a solvent having the property of releasing
     toxic vapors or fumes" shall mean any substance containing one
     or more of the following chemical compounds: acetone, acetate,
     benzene, butyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, ethylene dichloride,
     gaseous or liquid fluorocarbons, isopropyl alcohol, methyl
     alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone, pentachlorophenol, petroleum
     ether, or toluene.
        Section 3.  This act shall take effect immediately.

     APPROVED--The 19th day of December, A. D. 1997.

     THOMAS J. RIDGE