HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously approved legislation Wednesday aimed at expanding the Commonwealth’s legal authority on military installations, advancing a measure supporters say would better protect military children and families.
House Bill 469, authored by state Rep. Kristine Howard, D-Chester, updates Act 47 of 1977 to clarify the process for establishing concurrent jurisdiction between Pennsylvania and the federal government on military bases. The change would allow certain cases, including juvenile matters, to be handled in state courts rather than exclusively in the federal system.
Howard said the bill addresses a longstanding gap in how legal issues involving minors are handled on federal land.
“Presently, military bases in Pennsylvania, being on federal land, are only subject to the jurisdiction of the federal government, and unfortunately the federal courts are poorly equipped to address cases involving juveniles, but Pennsylvania’s courts are very accustomed to the unique needs of juveniles,” Howard said. “House Bill 469 gives a clear process by which a base’s commanding officer can give Pennsylvania courts the means to adjudicate such cases, and for that reason, we must pass H.B. 469. Military families should not be deprived of the benefits that Pennsylvania has created for addressing offenses by juveniles simply by virtue of living on base.”
The bill is the second measure in a three-bill legislative package sponsored by Howard along with state Reps. Chris Pielli and Dan Williams, both D-Chester. The package is designed to ensure military families stationed in Pennsylvania have access to the same legal protections and services available to civilian residents.
Under the legislation, a military installation’s commanding officer would be able to formally cede limited jurisdiction back to the Commonwealth, enabling Pennsylvania courts to hear certain cases while federal authority remains in place.
House Bill 469 now moves to the state Senate for consideration.
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