Wolf Signs HB 103 Against HIV Advocates Pleas

Erie County HIV Task Force

The first week of November 2022, PA Governor Tom Wolf signed a new law making it a felony to pass on a communicable disease when individuals 'should have known' the already had it. The law, known as HB 103, punishes people with 7 years in prison and $15,000 in fines for 'expelling' saliva, blood, or another bodily fluid onto a police officer. This law also charges people with a second-degree felony if they knew or 'should have known' they had a communicable disease after transmission to another person. The offense is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $25,000 in fines. Communicable diseases under this new law would include HIV as well as hepatitis, influenza, chickenpox, and COVID-19. Yes, if you have COVID-19 and do not know it but infect another person unintentionally, you could be in prison for a decade. Got your attention now?

The bill has been opposed by many national organizations including the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania HIV Justice Alliance, and others including members of the PA HIV Planning Group. As of 2022, 35 states have laws that criminalize HIV exposure, according to the CDC. To learn more about how to work toward reversing this law, visit the PA HIV Justice Alliance online at: facebook.com/PAHIVJusticeAlliance. This article was edited from LGBTQnation.com/2022/11/democratic-governor-signs-law-punishing-hiv-transmission-10-years-prison/