Bills tackle corruption, juvie justice

By Sheena Delazio sdelazio@timesleader.comStaff Writer

WILKES-BARRE – Several bills passed in the state House on Tuesday are on their way to the state Senate in hopes of mending corruption and juvenile justice in Pennsylvania.

Boback

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The anti-corruption bills, authored by area state Reps. Tarah Toohil, R-Butler Township, and Karen Boback, R-Harveys Lake, address the requirement of statistical data on juvenile justice and an amendment to the Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act that would require the immediate forfeiture of pension benefits when a plea of guilty or no contest is entered, or when a finding of guilty occurs.

Another bill, introduced by state Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, also passed through the House. It would create a legal avenue for citizens who are victims of an abuse of power and hold public officials who abuse their power accountable.

Turzai’s bill would creates a mandatory minimum sentence of two years for public officials who use their official position to violate someone’s rights and assists in getting restitution for victims.

“My bill makes it possible to go online and determine how many children are being sent away to prison,” Toohil said in a press release. “Putting the (Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice) recommendations into law will ensure the commonwealth remains vigilant in years to come.”

The commission was created by state legislators, with the support of the governor and state Supreme Court, to investigate circumstances that led to corruption in Luzerne County’s juvenile court system.

Boback said in a release that her bill was designed to apply to employer contributions to a public pension. Boback said the money contributed by an employee would be returned to the individual.

If there is a withdrawal of a guilty or no contest plea, or the court refuses to accept the plea, the actions wouldn’t affect the pension forfeiture. If there is an acquittal, Boback said, it would result in the reinstitution of full pension benefits.

“Perpetrators of public corruption must be held accountable for their actions. If an individual has already admitted culpability or been found guilty of defrauding the public, he or she should not receive the benefit of a public pension,” Boback said.

Boback said she began pursing the bill in 2009-10, as a reaction to the “kids for cash” corruption case.

“The bills approved (Tuesday) in the House provide additional safeguards for the people of Pennsylvania against corruption,” Boback said.

Toohil said her bill would require juvenile information to be compiled and posted on the state’s website.

“The ‘kids for cash’ scandal is a terrible mark on our court system,” Toohil said. “These bills will ensure that children’s rights are protected … so that a scandal like this cannot occur again.”