Legislation · Pennsylvania · Child welfare
Pennsylvania updates child-protection definition for promoting prostitution of a minor
Act 41 of 2026 updates the Child Protective Services Law’s promoting-prostitution reference alongside a reorganization and grade change for the offense involving a minor.
Published November 3, 2026 · Reviewed by David Martino
Pennsylvania Act 41 of 2026 reorganizes the promoting-prostitution provisions in a new 18 Pa.C.S. § 3027. The preexisting § 5902(b.1) already covered promoting prostitution of a minor as a third-degree felony; new § 3027(b) grades that corresponding minor-prostitution offense as a first-degree felony. Section 3 removes the former promoting-prostitution provisions from § 5902.
Section 4 amends the Child Protective Services Law definition of “sexual abuse or exploitation” in 23 Pa.C.S. § 6303(a). Within the category of listed offenses committed against a child, item (2)(x) replaces its prostitution reference to 18 Pa.C.S. § 5902 with promoting prostitution under the new 18 Pa.C.S. § 3027.
Act 41 was approved July 20, 2026, and states that it takes effect in 60 days, September 18, 2026. This report addresses the offense reorganization, grade change, and corresponding child-protection cross-reference only. It does not summarize the act’s other changes or decide the consequences of the amended definition in a particular proceeding.