Marsico Named Majority Chair of House Judiciary Committee
 
HARRISBURG-State Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Lower Paxton) has been appointed, by Speaker Sam Smith, to serve as majority chair of the House Judiciary Committee for the 2011-12 legislative session.
 
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead a committee that is hands-on with so many various issues,” said Marsico. “I am looking forward to working with the other members of this committee to create legislation that will enhance our state’s public safety and Pennsylvania’s justice system.”
 
As majority chair of the Judiciary Committee, Marsico will mainly deal with legislative and constituent issue areas such as law enforcement, tort reform, Megan’s Law and Pennsylvania’s judicial system.
 
“As we get ready to begin the 2011-12 session in the House of Representatives, my first priority will be to immediately move legislation out of the committee to amend Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law,” said Marsico. “This legislation includes language to rectify several problems with the current law, including mandating the registration of transient or homeless sex offenders.”
 
The Megan’s Law legislation of which Marsico is the prime sponsor, would change and significantly strengthen Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law to correct the major issues Pennsylvania is now facing. It would include the requirement for sex offenders without a residence to register every 30 days with the Pennsylvania State Police as transients.
 
“We need to continue to do all that we can to combat sexual predators who stalk our loved ones and I am pleased that I will now have the capability of ensuring that this legislation be moved to the floor of the House for a full vote without further delay,” said Marsico. “I will continue the fight to ensure that the rights of innocent Pennsylvanians take precedence over the rights of offenders by strengthening Megan’s Law in Pennsylvania.”

During his time in office, Marsico helped to pass legislation to improve the safety of communities across Pennsylvania by accelerating the reporting process of sex offenders and sexually violent predators. He has also authored laws to help protect children locally and across the state from the dangers of drug abuse by banning look-alike drug sales to minors and strengthen mandatory minimum penalties against heroin dealers.
 
Marsico has also advocated for legislation that would allow parents to test their minor children for drugs and for a new law to increase penalties against rapists who victimize young children and those who cause serious bodily injuries to their victims, regardless of the victim’s age. He has also supported legislation to protect the privacy of Pennsylvanians.
 
For more information on Marsico, please visit his Web site at RonMarsico.com.
 
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