Opinion ID: 4519664
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: RNC Requirements

Text: Also framing our analysis of the present appeal is the statutory scheme applicable to SVPs. Under SORNA, those designated as SVPs are obligated to comply with the RNC requirements for life.11 42 Pa.C.S §9799.15(a)(6). Registration requires SVPs to appear in person every three months to be photographed and to verify compliance with their obligations, as well as an in-person appearance to report any changes to their registration information within three days of the change. 42 Pa.C.S. §9799.15(f)-(g). SVPs must submit to the registry their names, residential addresses, IP addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, employer information, professional licensing information, vehicle information, and birthdates. 42 Pa.C.S. §9799.16(b). Failure to comply with the registration requirements is a criminal offense, which is graded as a first or second-degree felony. 18 Pa.C.S. §4915.1(c). 11 Following our decision in Muniz and the Superior Court’s decision in the present case, the General Assembly passed Act 10 of 2018, which divided SORNA into two subchapters. Subchapter H is based on the original SORNA statute and is applicable to offenders, like appellee, who committed their offenses after the December 20, 2012 effective date of SORNA; Subchapter I is applicable to offenders who committed their offenses prior to the effective date of SORNA and to whom the Muniz decision directly applied. The only relevant change with regard to SVPs under Subchapter H is the addition of a provision allowing SVPs, and other lifetime registrants, to petition for removal from the registry after 25 years. See 42 Pa.C.S. §9799.15(a.2). The General Assembly later passed Act 29 of 2018, which replaced Act 10 but made no relevant changes to Subchapter H regarding the statutory scheme applicable to SVPs. Appellee is now subject to the Act 29 version of Subchapter H due to his SVP designation, and as a result we consider the removal provision in our analysis. For clarity, we use “Subchapter H” when referring to portions of the statute other than the RNC requirements. [J-89-2019] - 10 Following an SVP’s initial registration, the local police must notify the SVP’s victim regarding the SVP’s name, residence, address of employment, and any address at which the SVP is enrolled as a student. 42 Pa.C.S. §9799.26(a)(1). Local police must also notify neighbors, the local county’s children and youth agency director, local school superintendents, local day-care centers and preschool programs, and local colleges and universities regarding the SVP. 42 Pa.C.S. §9799.27(b). Such notice must provide the SVP’s name, address, offense for which the SVP was convicted, a statement that the individual has been determined to be an SVP, and a photograph of the SVP. 42 Pa.C.S. §9799.27(a). SVPs are also required to attend monthly counseling sessions in a program approved by the SOAB and are financially responsible for the fees associated with such counseling unless the SVP can prove he or she is unable to make such payments. 42 Pa.C.S. §9799.36(a). SVPs must verify their compliance with the counseling requirements during their quarterly in-person verification, 42 Pa.C.S. §9799.15(f)(3), and failure to comply with the counseling requirement is a criminal offense, which is graded as a first-degree misdemeanor, 18 Pa.C.S. §4915.1(c.3).