Pennsylvania House Bill HB2345

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/31/26
• Refer: 3/31/26

Caption

Establishing the Domestic Violence Home Security Grant Program; and imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Summary

HB2345 would create the Domestic Violence Home Security Grant Program within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The program would provide grants to victims of domestic violence to help pay for residential security measures intended to improve the safety of their homes, such as reinforced doors and locks, window security, cameras, alarm systems, motion lighting, and personal alarm devices. The bill sets out an application process, including a commission-developed form, required documentation showing domestic violence victim status, and a process for rolling or annual applications as determined by the commission. It also allows the commission to prioritize higher-risk applicants, such as those recently separated from an abuser, those facing threats or violence, those with protection order violations, and households with children. Grant funds could be used to reduce repeat victimization, address heightened risk after separation or incarceration release, and support other protective measures. The bill also requires the commission to notify applicants of approval or denial and to explain denials in whole or in part, while keeping personally identifiable applicant information confidential.

Impact

The bill would amend Title 44 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by adding a new chapter establishing a state grant program and assigning administrative duties to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. It would not change the domestic violence definitions in Title 23, but it incorporates those definitions by reference and uses existing protection-from-abuse and criminal complaint documentation as proof of eligibility. The measure would create a new state-funded mechanism to support home security improvements for domestic violence victims and would impose confidentiality obligations on applicant information.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be framed in a supportive, victim-protection-oriented manner. Its purpose is narrowly tailored to safety planning for domestic violence survivors, and the structure of the program suggests an intent to provide practical assistance rather than a broad policy change. No recorded opposition, amendments, or divided votes are available in the provided context.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided committee transcripts or voting history. Potential issues that could arise from the bill’s design include how the commission will verify eligibility, how much discretion it will have in prioritizing applicants and setting grant conditions, whether funding will be sufficient to meet demand, and how confidentiality will be balanced with administrative oversight. The bill also leaves key implementation details to the commission, which could be a point of concern for those seeking clearer statutory standards.