§ 6303. Scope of chapter.
(a) General rule.--This chapter shall apply exclusively to the following:
(1) Proceedings in which a child is alleged to be delinquent or dependent.
(2) Transfers under section 6322 (relating to transfer from criminal proceedings).
(3) Proceedings arising under Subchapter E (relating to dispositions affecting other jurisdictions).
(4) Proceedings under the Interstate Compact on Juveniles, as set forth in section 731
of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code.
(5) Proceedings in which a child is charged with a summary offense arising out of the
same episode or transaction involving a delinquent act for which a petition alleging
delinquency is filed under this chapter. The summary offense shall be included in
any petition regarding the accompanying delinquent act. Upon finding a child to have
committed a summary offense, the court may utilize any disposition available to the
minor judiciary where a child is found to have committed a summary offense, including
a finding of guilt on the summary offense.
(b) Minor judiciary.--No child shall be detained, committed or sentenced to imprisonment by a magisterial
district judge or a judge of the minor judiciary unless the child is charged with
an act set forth in paragraph (2)(i), (ii), (iii) or (v) of the definition of "delinquent
act" in section 6302 (relating to definitions).
(c) Summary offenses generally.--In addition to the provisions of subsection (a)(5) and notwithstanding the exclusion
of summary offenses generally from the definition of "delinquent act" under section
6302, the provisions of sections 6307 (relating to inspection of court files and records)
and 6336(d) (relating to conduct of hearings), insofar as section 6336(d) relates
to the exclusion of the general public from the proceedings, shall apply to proceedings
involving a child charged with a summary offense when the proceedings are before a
judge of the minor judiciary, the Philadelphia Municipal Court or a court of common
pleas.
(Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days; Mar. 31, 1995, 1st Sp.Sess., P.L.983,
No.9, eff. 60 days; Mar. 29, 1996, P.L.51, No.17, eff. imd.; Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1618,
No.207, eff. 60 days; Oct. 25, 2012, P.L.1655, No.204, eff. 90 days; Sept. 27, 2014,
P.L.2482, No.138, eff. 60 days)
2014 Amendment. Act 138 amended subsec. (c).
2004 Amendment. Act 207 amended subsec. (b). See section 29 of Act 207 in the appendix to this title
for special provisions relating to construction of law.
Suspension by Court Rule. Subsection (b) was suspended by Pennsylvania Rule of Juvenile Court Procedure No.
800(8), amended December 30, 2005, insofar as it is inconsistent with Rule 210 relating
to arrest warrants.
References in Text. Section 731 of the act of June 13, 1967, P.L.31, No.21, known as the Public Welfare
Code, referred to in subsec. (a), was repealed by the act of July 2, 2004, P.L.468,
No.54. The subject matter is now contained in the Interstate Compact for Juveniles
Act.
The short title of the act of June 13, 1967, P.L.31, No.21, known as the Public Welfare
Code, referred to in subsection (a), was amended by the act of December 28, 2015,
P.L.500, No.92. The amended short title is now the Human Services Code.
Cross References. Section 6303 is referred to in section 6336 of this title.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
34
cases (
7 in the last 5 years), 1984–2026 · leading case:
Commonwealth v. Bursick, 584 A.2d 291 (Pa. 1990).
Commonwealth v. Bursick, 584 A.2d 291 (Pa. 1990).
· cites it 4× “Section 6303 of the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6303, defines the scope of the Act and provides in pertinent part as follows: *14 (a) General rule.”
In the Interest of: J.M., a Minor, 166 A.3d 408 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).
“” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6303(a)(1). A child is “dependent” if he or she: (1) is without proper parental care or control, subsistence, education as required by law, or other care or control ■necessary for his physical, mental, or emotional health, or morals .”
In the Interest R.T., 592 A.2d 55 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1991).
· cites it 2× “Our legislature has defined a dependent child as "a child who is without proper parental care or control, subsistence, education as required by law, or other care or control necessary for his physical, mental, or emotional health or morals.”
Matter of Huff, 582 A.2d 1093 (Pa. 1991).
· cites it 2× “42 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. § 6303(a)(1) and (2) (Purdon 1982).”
Burns v. Dep't of Human Servs., 190 A.3d 758 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2018).
“2005) ; see 42 Pa. C.S. § 6303(a)(1). "The [Juvenile] Act also clearly envisions the continuing supervision over a dependent child, and one alleged to be dependent, until the court concludes the child is no longer dependent.”
Alexander v. Commonwealth, Dep't of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 885 A.2d 651 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2005).
· cites it 2× “[1] See Sections 6303 and 6327 of the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6303; § 6327. Section 6303 of the Vehicle Code recognizes this prohibition by providing that "[n]o person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for a violation of any provisions of this title constituting a…”
In the Interest of M.B., 514 A.2d 599 (Pa. 1986).
“One of the means by which the Juvenile Act assures the parties a fair hearing is that it limits its application exclusively to “[proceedings in which a child is alleged to be delinquent or dependent,” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6303 (a)(1). 2 The manner in which a child may be alleged to be…”
In the Interest of Patricia S., 474 A.2d 318 (Pa. 1984).
“We interpret this statute as the lower court did: it grants jurisdiction over custody matters to the Orphans’ Court Division within the context of an adoption proceeding. The custody order in this case, on the other hand, was entered in connection with the dependency proceeding…”
In re T.R., 731 A.2d 1276 (Pa. 1999).
“42 Pa.C.S. § 6303(a)(1). A dependent child, for purposes of this appeal, is defined by the act as a child who “is without proper parental care or control, subsistence, education as required by law, or other care or control necessary for his physical, mental, or emotional health,…”
Commonwealth v. Harvin, 581 A.2d 929 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1990).
· cites it 2× “42 Pa.C.S. § 6303. The present controversy requires us to decide whether the finding of “guilt[] in a criminal proceeding” must occur prior to the commission of a second criminal act by a child in order to exclude the second criminal act from within the purview of the term…”
In the Interest of M.A., 529 A.2d 31 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1987).
“” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6303(a)(1). We have previously determined that the appellant is not dependent pursuant to the Act, and there is no allegation before us that she is delinquent.”
Leslie, A. v. Pub. Health Mngmt. Corp., 300 A.3d 469 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2023).
· cites it 2× “42 Pa.C.S. §§ 6303(a), 6307(a), (b). Plaintiff’s request for documents concerning “medical history, mental health diagnosis, general behaviors, relationships between [Johnson] and his parents, educational history, life experiences, and previous and/or prospective circumstances,”…”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6303(a) — 3 cases
Leslie, A. v. Pub. Health Mngmt. Corp., 300 A.3d 469 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2023).
“42 Pa.C.S. §§ 6303(a), 6307(a), (b). Plaintiff’s request for documents concerning “medical history, mental health diagnosis, general behaviors, relationships between [Johnson] and his parents, educational history, life experiences, and previous and/or prospective circumstances,”…”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6303(a)(1) — 20 cases
In the Interest of: J.M., a Minor, 166 A.3d 408 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017).
“” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6303(a)(1). A child is “dependent” if he or she: (1) is without proper parental care or control, subsistence, education as required by law, or other care or control ■necessary for his physical, mental, or emotional health, or morals .”
Matter of Huff, 582 A.2d 1093 (Pa. 1991).
“42 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. § 6303(a)(1) and (2) (Purdon 1982).”
Burns v. Dep't of Human Servs., 190 A.3d 758 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2018).
“2005) ; see 42 Pa. C.S. § 6303(a)(1). "The [Juvenile] Act also clearly envisions the continuing supervision over a dependent child, and one alleged to be dependent, until the court concludes the child is no longer dependent.”
Commonwealth v. Bursick, 584 A.2d 291 (Pa. 1990).
“Section 6303 of the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6303, defines the scope of the Act and provides in pertinent part as follows: *14 (a) General rule.”
In the Interest of Patricia S., 474 A.2d 318 (Pa. 1984).
“We interpret this statute as the lower court did: it grants jurisdiction over custody matters to the Orphans’ Court Division within the context of an adoption proceeding. The custody order in this case, on the other hand, was entered in connection with the dependency proceeding…”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6303(a)(2) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Bursick, 584 A.2d 291 (Pa. 1990).
“Section 6303 of the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6303, defines the scope of the Act and provides in pertinent part as follows: *14 (a) General rule.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6303(a)(l) — 1 case
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6303(b) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Bursick, 584 A.2d 291 (Pa. 1990).
“Section 6303 of the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6303, defines the scope of the Act and provides in pertinent part as follows: *14 (a) General rule.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6303(c) — 1 case
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