Source: https://www.shafferengle.com/blog/2018/june/sorna-and-sorna-ii-a-history-of-megans-law/
Timestamp: 2018-09-22 16:55:39
Document Index: 514445934

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 9799', '§ 17', '§ 9799', '§ 9799', '§ 9799', '§ 9795', '§ 9799', '§ 9799', '§ 9799', '§ 9799', '§ 4915', '§ 9799', '§ 9799', '§ 9799', '§ 4915', '§ 4915']

SORNA and SORNA II- A History of Megan's Law | Shaffer & Engle Law Offices
SORNA and SORNA II- A History of Megan's Law
By Shaffer & Engle Law Offices
As of February 21, 2018, Pennsylvania passed a replacement statute to SORNA or "Megan's Law IV," which was partially declared unconstitutional by the Muniz decision.
A History of Megan's Law- Where we've been and where we are now
SORNA or Megan's Law IV, December 20, 2012- February 21, 2018
Prior to the Supreme Court decision in Neiman, the General Assembly had replaced Megan's Law III with the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9799.10 et seq., which became effective on December 20, 2012. See Com. v. McDonough, 96 A.3d 1067, 1070 (Pa. Super. 2014). SORNA or Megan's Law IV survived for approximately 5 years.
On July 19, 2017, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court majority held that SORNA, violated the ex post facto provisions of both the federal and state constitutions. PA CONST. art. I § 17; Commonwealth v. Muniz, 164 A.3d 1189, 1222. The Munizmajority held that Pennsylvania's SORNA is an unconstitutional ex post facto law when applied retroactively to those sexual offenders convicted of applicable crimes before the act's effective date and subjected to increased registration requirements under SORNA after its passage pursuant to both the federal and state constitutions. Id. No form of Megan's Law in Pennsylvania had ever been held to be punishment since its inception in 1995. As noted by the Superior Court in a later decision, Muniz was a "sea of change in the longstanding law of this Commonwealth..." Commonwealth v. Butler, 173 A.3d 1212, 1215, 2017 WL 4914155 (Pa. Super. 2017). In Butler, the Superior Court held that, in light of Muniz, the sexually violent predator proof provisions set forth in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.24(e) were unconstitutional.
In response, the General Assembly passed HB 631, which the Governor signed into law on February 21, 2018 (Act 10 of 2018). Thus, overturning what the Courts had done in Muniz and Butler. The new statute slightly amended Chapter H of Title 42, and enacted an entirely new Chapter I of Title 42. The new enactment bifurcated the placement of sexual offenders and sexually violent offenders into a former track similar to Megan's Law II (Chapter I), dubbed "SORNA II" and a new track similar to the prior SORNA law enacted in 2012 (Chapter H), referred to as "SORNA."
Offenders must register for either 10 years or life. Sexually violent predators must register for life. Registration length is determined by the offense alone. Offenders that were previously listed under SORNA as a "Tier Offender" have found, in some instances, that they have been removed from the Megan's Law registry altogether. This is because, they have now been properly reclassified as a 10 year offender. Credit is to be given for all time spent on the registry of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and arguably on the registry of another state. See T.L.J. v. Commonwealth, 143 A.3d 468 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2016) (registrant's time spent on Texas Megan's Law registry was to be credited as time spent on Pennsylvania's SORNA registry under equal protection clause). Alternatively, a registrant does not accrue any time spent on the registry if they are incarcerated during their period of registration. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.56(a)(3).
Unlike the original SORNA, SORNA II requires that an individual update their information with the Pennsylvania State Police within 3 days. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.56(a)(2). Under Megan's Law II, it was formerly 10 days. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9795.2(a)(2) (2003). Additionally, more information is shared and to more people than previously under Megan's Law. Here are the additional requirements/information sharing that were not previously in existence under Megan's Law II:
Information about the offender is on a public website. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.63
In addition to name, job, residence, photo, and school.
Now includes: "scars, marks, birthmarks, and tattoos." 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.63(c)(viii).
Also includes: "license plate number and description of vehicle owned or registered to the offender." 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.63(c)(ix). This provision was not included in the original SORNA. Notably, there is little difference between the registries relating to SORNA and SORNA II as Chapter I's provision states that the registry shall be "incorporated as part of the registry established under Subchapter H (relating to registration of sexual offenders). 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.67(a).
Moreover, the risk of prosecution and incarceration for registration lapses is more prevalent than under former iterations of Megan's Law, especially Megan's Law II, because the failure to comply with SORNA II is felony. 18 Pa.C.S. § 4915.2(c). If a registrant does not appear for his verification date ("within 10 days before the date designated by the [PSP]"); does not appear within 3 days of a change; or gives incomplete or inaccurate information, he or she is subject to prosecution. Id.; 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.56(d). Although PSP is to send notice, "[f]ailure to send or receive notice" does not relieve the duty to register. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.60(f). Even the occurrence of a "natural disaster," such as a flood, blizzard, or hurricane does not obviate the need to register. NO EXCUSES. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.55(c). SORNA II also increases the grading of the offenses. Under Megan's Law II, all ten year offenses were felonies of the third degree; SORNA II makes subsequent failures and failure to provide accurate information (which never existed under Megan's Law II) felonies of the second degree. 18 Pa.C.S. § 4915.2(b). Lifetime offenders also suffer severe penalties for non-compliance. 18 Pa.C.S. § 4915.2(c).