§ 2719. Endangerment of public safety official.

482 words·~2 min read·/pa/title-18/chapter-27/2719

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)Endangerment of public safety official.-- A person commits the offense of endangering a public safety official if the person intentionally or knowingly communicates, or publishes through an electronic social media service, the restricted personal information of a public safety official or a family or household member of a public safety official with:

(1)reckless disregard that the restricted personal information will be used to threaten, intimidate or facilitate the commission of a crime against the public safety official or a family or household member of the public safety official; or

(2)the intent that the restricted personal information will be used to threaten, intimidate or facilitate the commission of a crime against the public safety official or a family or household member of the public safety official.

(b)Grading.--

(1)Except as provided under paragraph (2), an offense under subsection

(a)shall constitute a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(2)An offense under subsection

(a)that results in bodily injury to a public safety official or a family or household member of a public safety official shall constitute a felony of the second degree.

(c)Definitions.-- As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Communicate." Convey a message by oral, nonverbal, written or electronic means, including telephone, electronic mail, Internet, facsimile, telex, wireless communication or similar transmission.

"Family or household member." Spouses or persons who have been spouses, persons living as spouses or who lived as spouses, parents, children, other persons related by consanguinity or affinity, current or former sexual or intimate partners or persons who share biological parenthood.

"Federal judicial officer." The following:

(1)An active, retired or senior judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit who is a resident of this Commonwealth.

(2)An active, retired or senior judge of a Federal district court for the Eastern, Middle or Western District of Pennsylvania.

(3)An active, retired or senior bankruptcy judge or tax court judge of the United States Bankruptcy Courts or United States Tax Courts for the Eastern, Middle or Western District of Pennsylvania.

(4)An active or senior judge or full-time magistrate of the District Courts of the United States for the Eastern, Middle or Western District of Pennsylvania.

"Public safety official." An individual listed under section 2702(c) (relating to aggravated assault), including a Federal judicial officer.

"Restricted personal information." An individual's image, name, Social Security number, home address, home phone number, mobile phone number, personal email or home fax number.

18c2719v

(Nov. 17, 2022, P.L.2179, No.165, eff. 90 days; Oct. 16, 2024, P.L.981, No.98, eff. 60 days)

2024 Amendment. Act 98 amended the def. of "public safety official" and added the def. of "Federal judicial officer" in subsec. (c).

2022 Amendment. Act 165 added section 2719.