Current Session

Bill Tracker! Click here for the ACLU of PA's Bill Tracker. Get the most recent information on legislation we're watching at the state capitol.

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legislative updates

• Legislative Update: November 18, 2009, (PDF, 100K)
• Legislative Update: May 20, 2009, (PDF, 102K)
• Legislative Update: February 20, 2009, (PDF, 122K)

recent testimony, press releases, and statements

• Memo to Senate Judiciary Committee on SB 1074, shackling pregnant inmates, January 25, 2010 (PDF, 91K)
• Memo to Senate Game and Fisheries Committee on HB 181, stop and search powers of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, January 25, 2010 (PDF, 90K)
• Memo to House Judiciary Committee on HB 2189, sexting, January 25, 2010 (PDF, 102K)
• Testimony to House Judiciary Committee on HB 265, forced HIV testing of sexual assault defendants, December 21, 2009 (PDF, 104K)

criminal justice

• Testimony to Senate Judiciary Committee on prison crowding, November 16, 2009 (PDF, 280K)
• Testimony to House Democratic Policy Committee on wrongful convictions, October 29, 2009 (PDF, 105K)
• ACLU of PA Questions O'Brien's Proposal for More DNA Collection, July 22, 2009
• Memo to House Judiciary Committee in opposition to HB 1567, ending parole for certain offenders, June 15, 2009 (PDF, 91K)
• Memo to House Judiciary Committee on HB 306, searches of parolees without cause, April 20, 2090 (PDF, 94K)
• Casey's Juvenile Justice Bill Draws Praise from ACLU of PA February 17, 2009

drug law reform

• PA House Committee Holds Historic First Committee Hearing on Medical Marijuana, December 2, 2009
• Testimony to House Health and Human Services Committee on HB 1393, authorizing medical marijuana, December 2, 2009 (PDF, 151K)

free speech

• Memo to House Judiciary Committee on HB 108, criminalization of symbols of hate, April 27, 2009(PDF, 93K)

good government

• Letter to House Judiciary Committee on HB 1619, merit selection for state appellate judges, December 7, 2009 (PDF, 99K)

hiv-aids

• Testimony to House Judiciary Committee on HB 265, forced HIV testing of sexual assault defendants, December 21, 2009 (PDF, 104K)
• Memo to House Judiciary Committee on HB 1075, mandatory HIV tests for inmates before release, December 9, 2009 (PDF, 117K)
• Letter to Rep. Mustio on HB 265, mandatory HIV testing for criminal suspects, February 23, 2009(PDF, 86K)

immigrants' rights

• Memo to House Labor Relations Committee on HBs 1502 and 1503, mandating E-Verify for state contractors and construction companies, December 8, 2009 (PDF, 166K)
• New Immigration Reports Show Benefits of Newcomers, ACLU of PA Says, August 17, 2009

juvenile justice

• Memo to House Judiciary Committee on HB 2189, sexting, January 25, 2010 (PDF, 102K)
• Memo to Senate on SB 56, mandating school administrators to call the police for school-based incidents, May 6, 2009 (PDF, 84K)
  • SB 56 Fact Sheet, (PDF, 65K)
• Memo to House Judiciary Committee on HB 1211, right to counsel for juveniles, May 4, 2009 (PDF, 86K)

Lgbt rights

• Civil Rights Coalition Commends State Senator's Marriage Proposal, May 27, 2009
• Civil Rights Coalition Calls Constitutional Amendment on Marriage a 'Divisive Distraction', May 19, 2009
• Hundreds of Pennsylvanians Rally in Support of Bill to End LGBT Discrimination, March 17, 2009
• Toolkit! The information you need to support HB 300 and end LGBT discrmination
  • HB 300: The Facts
  • HB 300: Business perspective
  • HB 300: The truth about religious expression
  • HB 300: Gender Identity 101
  • HB 300: Polling data
• House State Government Committee Passes Bill to End LGBT Discrimination, March 11, 2009
• PA House Bill Introduced to End LGBT Discrimination, March 4, 2009
• Letter of support for Allegheny County non-discrimination ordinance, January 14, 2009 (PDF, 100K)

reproductive rights

• Memo to Senate Judiciary Committee on SB 1074, shackling pregnant inmates, January 25, 2010 (PDF, 91K)
• Letter to House Education Committee on HBs 1162 and 1163, comprehensive sex education, December 9, 2009 (PDF, 100K)

students' rights

• Letter to Sen. Piccola on SB 56, increased law enforcement in schools, February 27, 2009 (PDF, 87K)

surveillance and privacy

• Memo to Senate Game and Fisheries Committee on HB 181, stop and search powers of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, January 25, 2010 (PDF, 90K)
• ACLU of PA Questions O'Brien's Proposal for More DNA Collection, July 22, 2009
• Memo to Senate on SB 621, Real ID opt-out, July 6, 2009 (PDF, 91K)
• Testimony to House Judiciary Committee on HB 1298, notice to workers of email surveillance by employers, July 1, 2009 (PDF, 97K)
• Senate Committee Passes Bill Backed by ACLU of PA to Block Federal ID Program, June 10, 2009
• Memo to Senate Communications and Technology Committee on SB 621, Real ID opt-out, June 9, 2009 (PDF, 92K)
• State House Passes Bill to Protect Constitutional Rights of Outdoorsmen, Wins Praise from ACLU of PA, June 1, 2009
• Testimony to Senate Communications and Technology Committee on SBs 621 and 623, opting-out of Real ID and biometric data collection, May 13, 2009 (PDF, 121K)
• Memo to House of Representatives on HB 181, stop-and-search power of Game Commission, May 7, 2009(PDF, 89K)
• Memo to Senate and House leadership, costs of Real ID, January 14, 2009 (PDF, 121K)
• State can save millions of dollars by blocking Real ID, ACLU suggests January 14, 2009

Voting Rights

• Memo to House State Government Committee on HB 1072, voting materials for released inmates, May 7, 2009 (PDF, 88K)
• ACLU of PA Calls Voter ID Bill "Worst Kind of Election Reform," Urges Committee to Vote No, March 23, 2009
• Memo to Senate State Government Committe on SB 514, photo ID to vote, March 23, 2009 (PDF, 92K)