The measure unanimously passed the House on Tuesday.
Offenses covered under the bill are indecent assault, indecent exposure and open lewdness.
Currently, these offenses require that the officer actually witness the crime, or that he or she obtain a warrant before making an arrest. Both Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zapalla Jr. and Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck voiced strong support for the bill, which was written at the request of the Philadelphia assistant district attorney's office. That doesn't make any sense. The police need to be able make arrests for these crimes immediately. The bill now moves over to the Senate for consideration.