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*NEW*  Task Force on Child Pornography

The Task Force on Child Pornography (TFCP or “task force”) was established by Act 53 of 2021, which became law on June 30, 2021 and took effect on August 30, 2021.  Staffed jointly by PCCD and members of the Joint State Government Commission (JSGC), the Task Force was composed of a 20-members appointed by the General Assembly and the Governor, as well as several members appointed by virtue of their position.  

Per the statute, the TFCP was given one year from its first meeting to “conduct a review to ascertain any inadequacies relating to the offense of child pornography in 18 Pa.C.S. § 6312” and develop any recommendations for any improvements relating to the investigation and prosecution of child pornography and suggest any necessary changes in state statutes, policies and procedures relating to the recognition or prosecution of child pornography.  The final report was adopted by the Task Force during the September 28, 2022 meeting.

 Task Force on Child Pornography Final Report (PDF)

Judicial Computer System Financial Audit Committee

The Judicial Computer System Financial Audit Committee (JCSFAC) was established within PCCD by Act 70 of 2021. Becoming law on July 9, 2021, the provisions pertaining to the JCSFAC took effect on September 7, 2021.

The JCSFAC was a 13-member body consisting of both voting members appointed by General Assembly leadership and the Judiciary and nonvoting advisory members appointed by virtue of their position.  The Committee was directed to review the current status of the Judicial Computer System Augmentation Account (JCSAA) which supports the operation and maintenance of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts' (AOPC) Judicial Computer System (JCS) established under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 37 Subchapter C (relating to Judicial Computer System). 

Specifically, the JCSFAC was tasked with:

(1)    Requesting information from the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts necessary to fulfill the Committee's duties;

(2)    Reviewing the policy goals, purpose and programs of the system, including, but not limited to, the provision of Statewide case management systems for magisterial, common pleas and appellate courts and other critical functions, the system's impact on the implementation of statutory enactments and the collection of fines, fees and costs payable to the Commonwealth, counties and municipal corporations; 

(3)    Assessing the annual financial needs and revenue streams that support the continuous and uninterrupted operation of the system, including disaster recovery; 

(4)    Evaluating the annual revenues and expenditures within the system and the amount of any annual surpluses; 

(5)    Submitting legislative recommendations related to the reallocation of undedicated surpluses; and 

(6)    By January 31, 2022, submitting a report of its findings to the chair and minority chair of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate, the chair and minority chair of the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives, the chair and minority chair of the Judiciary Committee of the Senate and the chair and minority chair of the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives.

 The JCSFAC first met on October 27, 2021, where Representative Torren Ecker was elected by the voting members to serve as Chair.  A series of meetings was convened throughout the months of November and December 2021, with extensive written testimony provided by the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) and JCS users.  Throughout the process, AOPC provided financial information at the request of the committee, which was used as the basis of this report.

PCCD provided staff support to the JCSFAC to coordinate the meetings and assist in the drafting of the final report, which was adopted by the Committee on January 27, 2022 and submitted to the General Assembly on January 31, 2022 (attached below).  

JCSFAC Full Report (PDF)