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SB 1259

An Act amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for investigation of circumstances of offense and for parole procedure.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Baker and 7 co-sponsors

SB 1259 tightens confidentiality for materials the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole collects during parole investigations, making them privileged, non-discoverable, and n

Act No. 26 of 2026
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Bill Summary · SB 1259

Summary: SB 1259 (2025-2026) — Pennsylvania

Basic information

  • Bill: Senate Bill 1259
  • Session: 2025-2026
  • Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
  • Subject: Amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) to modify provisions related to the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, specifically regarding investigation of circumstances of offense and parole procedure
  • Introduced: April 1, 2026
  • Sponsors: Cappelletti, Baker, Schwank, Saval, Kane, Costa, Kim, Vogel (with several Senate co-sponsors)

What the bill aims to do

SB 1259 adds a new subsection to 42 Pa.C.S. Title 61 § 6135 (Investigation of circumstances of offense) that establishes and strengthens the confidentiality protections surrounding materials the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole receives during the investigation of an offense or circumstances related to a parole review.

Key provisions

  • New subsection § 6135(c): Confidentiality of parole review materials
    • Records or information provided to the Board by a public official or public employee under subsection (b) shall be deemed:
    • (1) Confidential and privileged.
    • (2) Not subject to subpoena or discovery.
    • (3) Not admissible as evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding.
    • (4) Not releasable to the offender.
    • These protections apply specifically to materials furnished for the purposes of parole review and investigation of the circumstances of the offense, and are intended to shield official information from disclosure or use in subsequent proceedings, except as otherwise provided in section 6139(a)(5) (relating to parole procedure).

Who/what is affected

  • Affected entity: The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (PBPP) and, more broadly, the process by which parole decisions are informed by information gathered from public officials or public employees.
  • Stakeholders impacted by confidentiality:
    • Public officials and public employees who provide information to PBPP during parole investigations.
    • Offenders subject to parole review, since the materials will not be released to them.
    • Courts and administrative agencies involved in parole procedure, which are restricted from compelling or using these materials as evidence, except as allowed by the statute.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date and implementation: The bill as introduced does not specify an immediate effective date beyond typical legislative enactment timelines; it adds a confidentiality framework to the existing § 6135(c) structure.
  • Relation to other provisions: The confidentiality protections are stated to be subject to exceptions under another section, § 6139(a)(5) (relating to parole procedure), indicating a possible carve-out or interaction with the broader parole process rules.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Strengthened confidentiality: The bill tightens protections around materials provided to PBPP during investigations, limiting access, subpoena power, and admissibility in proceedings. This could reduce the exposure of sensitive information gathered during parole investigations.
  • Effect on transparency and accountability: While confidentiality can protect sensitive sources, it may raise questions about transparency and the ability of offenders, prosecutors, or oversight bodies to review the basis for parole determinations.
  • Operational impact for PBPP and officials: Public officials and employees providing information to PBPP would benefit from enhanced protections, potentially encouraging more candid or complete disclosures.

Summary in plain terms

SB 1259 tightens the confidentiality rules for information the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole receives when investigating the circumstances of an offense for parole decisions. The materials would be confidential, not subject to subpoenas or discovery, not admissible in court, and not released to the offender, with some exceptions defined in the parole procedure section. This aims to protect the integrity of the parole investigation process and the sources of information used by PBPP.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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