Pielli’s bill to protect children unanimously approved by PA House
H.B. 355 seeks to increase punishment against mandated reporters who use authority to corrupt children.
Rep. Chris Pielli May 6, 2025 | 4:20 PM
HARRISBURG, May 6 – State Rep. Chris Pielli, D-Chester, announced today that his legislation (H.B. 355) has unanimously passed the state House of Representatives.
House Bill 355 would provide a sentencing enhancement for courts to consider in sexual assault cases where the defendant is a mandated reporter.
“We tell our children not to trust strangers. We tell our children what they should do when a stranger approaches them. But we also tell our children that you CAN trust your teacher. You CAN trust a police officer,” Pielli said. “How can we allow adults who break that sacred trust to then benefit from institutional leniencies they do not deserve? This legislation, as amended, allowing for sentencing enhancements for a perpetrator in a position of authority, is a step in the right direction.”
Mandated reporters are legally required to report suspected child abuse or neglect. They include, but are not limited to, school employees, health care professionals, child care providers, law enforcement, clergy and social service workers.
“I want to thank all those who have come out in support of this legislation, including Chairman Tim Briggs, and staff. I want to thank my co-prime sponsor and author of this bill in the last session, state Representative Joe D’Orsie of York County, for all his help with this bill. It was his commitment, his caring, and his perseverance that enabled this bill to go forward. And finally, I’d like to thank Grace, the brave young woman who had the courage to come forward and share her story with Representative D’Orsie and me and, in turn, put a face of strength and resilience to all those victims who had to endure such injustice.”
The bill now goes to the state Senate for consideration.