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PA HB1873
Bill
Status
9/22/2025
Primary Sponsor
Jeanne McNeill
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AI Summary
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Amends Pennsylvania's endangering welfare of children offense to create exceptions when conduct does not constitute abuse under child protective services definitions or when the child is not a dependent child
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Explicitly permits parents to allow children of sufficient maturity to engage in independent activities including walking/biking to school, outdoor play, remaining in vehicles unattended, staying home alone, and caring for younger siblings
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Raises the legal threshold for finding a "dependent child" from lacking "proper" parental care to requiring evidence of conduct placing the child at "serious risk of harm" rather than just general risk
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Modifies the definition of "serious physical neglect" by changing supervision standard from "appropriate" to "necessary" and requiring failure to provide "essentials" rather than "adequate" necessities
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Protects parental decisions about supervision and independent activities from constituting neglect or abuse unless the parent willfully or recklessly disregards a foreseeable danger a reasonable parent would address; takes effect 60 days after enactment
Legislative Description
In offenses against the family, further providing for the offense of endangering welfare of children; in child protective services, further providing for definitions and for exclusions from child abuse; and, in juvenile matters, further providing for definitions.
Last Action
Laid on the table
11/18/2025