Pennsylvania Bill Providing Further Sentencing for the Murder of an ‘Unborn Child’ (HB 203)

HB 203 would sentence a person convicted of murder in the first degree of an “unborn child” to life imprisonment.

Under this bill, the sentence for any person who has been convicted of first degree murder of an “unborn child” would be the same as the sentence for murder of the first degree, except that the death penalty may not be imposed.

The bill defines criminal homicide of an unborn child to be when:

• It is committed by an intentional killing; or
• A person who commits murder in the first degree of a pregnant person, thereby causing the death of an “unborn child.”

Such an offense would not require proof that the defendant had knowledge or should have known that the victim of the offense was pregnant or that the defendant intended to cause the death of the “unborn child.” This would also apply to the offenses of murder in the second and third degrees, and the voluntary manslaughter of an “unborn child.”

---

Related Legislation

Similar to HB 565, which imposes a life sentence for anyone convicted of third degree murder of an “unborn child,” who has previously been convicted at any time of murder or voluntary manslaughter.

---

Latest Action

1/28/19 – Introduced; referred to House Judiciary Committee.

---

People