HARRISBURG – A new law signed yesterday by the governor will strengthen Pennsylvania’s efforts to protect children from sexual abuse in youth sports and nonprofit programs, according to the bill’s sponsors Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) and Sen. Scott Martin (R-13).
Senate Bill 255, now Act 22 of 2025, adds the crime of sexual assault by a sports official, volunteer or employee of a nonprofit association as a Tier II offense under the state’s Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). The bill was introduced after discovering that the crime was not listed as a sexual offense under SORNA, leading to inconsistencies in how offenders are tracked when their crimes occur under the guise of community involvement.
“This is a matter of basic public safety,” said Baker. “When someone uses their role in a trusted organization to prey on children, they should be fully subject to the same registration and monitoring requirements as other sex offenders. Our laws must reflect the seriousness of that betrayal.”
Previously, a conviction for this crime did not require sexual offender registration — a gap that left children and families at risk.
“We have an obligation to ensure children are safe in our communities,” said Martin, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Child predators are always trying to find new ways to be close to kids. Closing this loophole ensures anyone convicted of such a terrible crime can be properly monitored to ensure fewer young people are at risk of being victimized by dangerous offenders, even at their recreational activities and sports.”
“The people in charge of youth sports, camps and charitable programs should never be shielded from accountability,” Baker said. “This law ensures the law works as intended – to protect kids, inform families and make it harder for abusers to strike again.”
The bill received unanimous approval by both chambers of the General Assembly and was developed in partnership with child safety advocates and law enforcement. Baker credited bipartisan cooperation and the voices of survivors for helping push the bill across the finish line.
The new law takes effect immediately.