HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday reacted to pair of bills that passed Pennsylvania Senate voting sessions this week:
- HB1425, which would establish a directory (similar to cigarettes) for electronic nicotine devices (vapes).
- HB 1615, which would maintain DUI sentencing conditions that preserve treatment programs while holding repeat offenders accountable.
On HB1425, Attorney General Sunday said:
“Unregulated vaping devices and other e-cigarettes are often manufactured to appear attractive to children, who are most susceptible to such marketing.
“The reality is that users of these unregulated products have no idea what they are actually consuming. The products often contain no reliable disclosures about contents or potential dangers attached to consumption.
“I commend the bipartisan work in the Senate and House that recognized a threat to our children and took action to protect all Pennsylvanians.”
HB1615, Attorney General Sunday said:
“This bill remedies a state court’s ruling that essentially disregards a first DUI offense resulting in ARD when a second DUI conviction occurs. While I am an advocate of second chances when appropriate, I have found in my career that many DUI offenders are at high risk to re-offend, so precautions must be in place to ensure accountability if they commit subsequent offenses.
“Every time someone makes the intentional decision to get behind the wheel intoxicated, they endanger every person they encounter on the roadway. I have seen far too many tragedies caused by completely avoidable vehicle crashes rooted to DUI.
“I will continue to advocate for ARD and other worthy diversion programs as positive resolutions to criminal charges for certain offenders, but there is no such thing as a freebie when it comes to driving while intoxicated.”
Both bills return to the House for their concurrence on Senate amendments.
Finally, the Senate Judiciary passed HB1934, which offers clarification of discovery requirements under the Commonwealth Attorneys Act, which applies to the Governor, Commonwealth executive/independent agencies, and their employees.
The legislation protects the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and other state agencies that have increasingly been subjected to “exhaustive” and “inappropriate” discovery demands in civil litigation.
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