HB 920 — An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in bonds and recognizances, further providing for bail to be governed by general rules.

PRINTER'S NO.   969

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 920
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY DELOZIER, GAYDOS AND KUZMA, MARCH 17, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 17, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
 2      Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in bonds and
 3      recognizances, further providing for bail to be governed by
 4      general rules.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.     Section 5702 of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania
 8   Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
 9   § 5702.    Bail to be governed by general rules.
10      (a)    General rule.--Except as otherwise provided by this
11   title and the laws relating to the regulation of surety
12   companies, all matters relating to the fixing, posting,
13   forfeiting, exoneration and distribution of bail and
14   recognizances shall be governed by general rules.
15      (b)    Use of cash bail.--
16             (1)   In a case in which the defendant is the named
17      depositor, any cash bail deposited by the defendant which is
18      otherwise returnable to the defendant shall be held and
19      applied to the payment of any restitution, fees, fines and
 1      costs imposed upon the defendant in connection with a
 2      criminal or delinquency case unless the defendant shows that
 3      the defendant would suffer an undue hardship.
 4            (2)   In a case in which the defendant is not the named
 5      depositor, the court may order, upon motion of the attorney
 6      for the Commonwealth, that any cash bail deposited on behalf
 7      of the defendant which is otherwise returnable to the
 8      depositor be held and applied to the payment of any
 9      restitution, fees, fines and costs imposed upon the defendant
10      in connection with a criminal or delinquency case unless the
11      depositor shows that the depositor would suffer an undue
12      hardship.
13      (c)   Notice.--Written notice of the provisions of subsection
14   (b) shall be provided to a depositor prior to the acceptance of
15   a deposit of cash bail.
16      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 180 days.




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