FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2025
Pennsylvania House Passes House Bill 355 to Strengthen Sentencing for Mandatory Reporters Who Sexually Assault Children
Harrisburg, PA — In a decisive move to protect Pennsylvania’s children and hold trusted professionals accountable, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 355 (HB 355), a critical piece of legislation enhancing sentencing guidelines for mandatory reporters who sexually assault minors.
Mandatory reporters—individuals such as police officers, student resource officers, teachers, coaches, clergy, and healthcare professionals—are legally required to report suspected child abuse. Under HB 355, those who exploit this position of trust to commit sexual crimes against children will now face enhanced sentencing penalties. The bill acknowledges the significant betrayal of responsibility, and the deep trauma caused when abuse comes at the hands of someone legally charged with protecting children.
“HB 355 sends a clear message: the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will not tolerate those who use their positions of authority and trust to harm children,” said Representative Chris Pielli(D), the bill’s prime sponsor. “When a mandatory reporter commits such a heinous act, it represents not just a personal crime, but a violation of the public’s trust. These individuals deserve heightened accountability.”
The bill was initially conceived by Chris McGhee, a father of a child who was sexually assaulted by a York City police officer in 2021. A year and a half after pressing charges, the predator received a plea deal to a misdemeanor charge of corruption of a minor, with no jail time or registration on the national database of sexual offenders. After watching the officer walk out of the courtroom as a free person, Mr. McGhee decided that no family should ever have to witness such a failure of the system ever again. “This bill is a step in the right direction to provide families some sense of justice and closure after experiencing such a horrific betrayal of trust,” said Mr. McGhee.
The bill was initially introduced and sponsored by Representative Joe D’Orsie(R) in 2023 and received bipartisan support this year when the bill was reintroduced by Rep Pielli with Rep D’Orsie as co-prime. Representative D’Orsie shared his personal passion for taking on this fight, “Advocating for victims through HB 355 has been perhaps the most worthwhile fight I’ve taken on in my tenure. I’m ever grateful to the McGhees for their advocacy, compassion, and energy. This would not have happened without them.”
On 6/27/25, the bill was signed by Governor Josh Shapiro, making it a law.