Pennsylvania Statutes Title 18 P.S. Crimes and Offenses § 11.301. Office

(a) Establishment.--There is established within the board the Office of Victim Advocate to represent the interests of crime victims before the board or department. The office shall operate under the direction of the victim advocate as provided in this section.

(b) Appointment.--The victim advocate must be an individual who by reason of training and experience is qualified to represent the interests of individual crime victims before the board. The victim advocate shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the consent of a majority of all of the members of the Senate. The victim advocate shall hold office for a term of six years and until a successor shall have been duly appointed and qualified but in no event more than 90 days beyond the expiration of the appointed term. A vacancy occurring for any reason shall be filled in the manner provided by section 8 of Article IV of the Constitution of Pennsylvania for the remainder of the term. Whenever the victim advocate's term expires, that position shall be immediately deemed a vacancy, and the Governor shall nominate a person to fill that position within 90 days of the date of expiration even if the victim advocate continues in office. To be eligible to be appointed by the Governor as victim advocate, an individual must have at least six years of professional experience in victim advocacy, social work or related areas, including one year in a supervisory or administrative capacity, and a bachelor's degree. Any equivalent combination of experience and training shall be acceptable. Compensation shall be set by the Executive Board as defined by the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L. 177, No. 175),  1 known as The Administrative Code of 1929.

(c) Service and employees.--The victim advocate shall operate from the central office of the board with such clerical, technical and professional staff as may be available within the budget of the board. The compensation of employees of the office shall be set by the Executive Board.