Gov. Tom Corbett signed Act 56, June 18, and it is now a third-degree felony for a “sports official, volunteer or employee of a nonprofit or for-profit sports program” to engage in sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse or indecent contact with a child under the 18 years of age who is participating in a sports program, according to State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).
If the child is under the age of 16, sentencing requires a mandatory minimum of two, five or 10 years in prison depending on the specifics.
Cox says the law was necessary as sometimes officials have relations with athletes who are past the age of consent, which is 16 in Pennsylvania.
A coach who had relations with a person 16 or 17 years old would have been liable for corruption of minors, which is but a third-degree misdemeanor.
The law started as HB 112 introduced by Rep. Mike Vereb (R-150) on Jan. 15, 2013 and was inspired by a Montgomery County case in which a private volleyball coach was arrested for having unlawful sexual relations with a 15-year-old player.
It passed the House 197-0 on Nov. 13 and the Senate 45-1 on June 4. Sen. Stewart Greeleaf (R-12) was the dissenter.
Coach Sexual Relations Now Pa Felony
I favor cutting off their balls.