HR 547

                                                  PRINTER'S NO.    3503
                THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
         HOUSE RESOLUTION
            No. 547
                                            Session of
                                              2026
INTRODUCED BY J. HARRIS, DELOZIER, WAXMAN, KHAN, McNEILL, MAYES,
   KINKEAD, BRENNAN, GUZMAN, DOUGHERTY, PARKER, HOHENSTEIN,
   CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, NEILSON, SANCHEZ, CURRY, PUGH, RIGBY, KUZMA,
   TOMLINSON, FLOOD, MIHALEK, BONNER AND KAIL, JUNE 1, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JUNE 2, 2026
                             A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
2    conduct a study on the use of electronic monitoring as an
3    alternative to incarceration in this Commonwealth and to
4    report its findings and recommendations to the House of
5    Representatives.
6WHEREAS, Electronic monitoring technologies are used
7 throughout this Commonwealth to supervise certain individuals in
8 the community in lieu of incarceration, including individuals on
9 pretrial release, probation, parole and county intermediate
10 punishment programs; and
11WHEREAS, Pennsylvania law authorizes the use of electronic
12 monitoring in a variety of circumstances, including under 42
13 Pa.C.S. §§ 9763 and 9804; and
14WHEREAS, Additional authority for community supervision and
15 alternatives to incarceration, including supervision conditions
16 that may incorporate electronic monitoring technology, exists
17 under 61 Pa.C.S. Pt. IV (relating to Department of Corrections);
18 and
1    WHEREAS, Courts in this Commonwealth may also utilize
2 electronic monitoring as a condition of pretrial release
3 pursuant to the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure
4 governing bail and conditions of release; and
5    WHEREAS, Rigorous evidence demonstrates that electronic
6 monitoring, when used appropriately as an alternative to
7 incarceration, may improve public safety outcomes while reducing
8 correctional costs; and
9    WHEREAS, Policymakers may benefit from a comprehensive
10 evaluation of how electronic monitoring is currently used in
11 this Commonwealth and whether opportunities exist to improve or
12 expand its use; therefore be it
13    RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
14 Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study and
15 issue a report regarding the use of electronic monitoring as an
16 alternative to incarceration in this Commonwealth; and be it
17 further
18    RESOLVED, That the study include an examination of the
19 following:
20(1)   where and how electronic monitoring is currently
21    used in this Commonwealth as an alternative to incarceration,
22    including statutory authority and the populations eligible
23    for electronic monitoring;
24(2)   constraints or barriers that may limit the use of
25    electronic monitoring as an alternative to incarceration;
26(3)   opportunities to expand or improve the use of
27    electronic monitoring for low-risk individuals as an
28    alternative to incarceration;
29(4)   rates of recidivism for individuals supervised using
30    electronic monitoring as compared to incarcerated populations
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1    and individuals under other forms of community supervision;
2(5)    the costs of electronic monitoring and incarceration
3    to the Commonwealth compared to the costs to counties and
4    individuals under supervision;
5(6)    methods used to evaluate electronic monitoring
6    technologies to ensure effective supervision outcomes; and
7(7)    the structure of contracts or agreements for
8    operating and providing electronic monitoring services within
9    this Commonwealth;
10 and be it further
11    RESOLVED, That, in conducting the study, the Legislative
12 Budget and Finance Committee consult with relevant stakeholders,
13 including:
14(1)    the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and
15    Delinquency;
16(2)    the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts;
17(3)    the Department of Corrections;
18(4)    the Pennsylvania Parole Board;
19(5)    county probation and parole departments;
20(6)    representatives of the judiciary;
21(7)    the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association;
22(8)    the Pennsylvania Public Defender Association;
23(9)    the Office of Attorney General;
24(10)    representatives of law enforcement;
25(11)    providers of electronic monitoring services;
26(12)    organizations representing victims of crime and
27    domestic violence; and
28(13)    criminal justice policy and reentry organizations
29    with expertise in electronic monitoring;
30 and be it further
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1    RESOLVED, That Commonwealth agencies and departments
2 cooperate with the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee and
3 provide information requested by the committee as necessary to
4 complete the study; and be it further
5    RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
6 submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the House
7 of Representatives no later than 18 months after the adoption of
8 this resolution.
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