HARRISBURG — The state Senate is advancing a bill that would expand a person's self-defense rights by removing the duty to retreat before using deadly force against an attacker, except under certain circumstances.

The Senate voted 41-8 to amend a separate bill with the provision. It would expand the state's so-called "castle doctrine" so that it applies beyond homes and vehicles and offers immunity against civil lawsuits.

The underlying bill would update the registration requirements of sexual offenders who are homeless to allow them to give police a general location.

HARRISBURG — A bill headed to Gov. Ed Rendell's desk would make changes in how Pennsylvania's justice system handles nonviolent offenders in an effort to cut costs and relieve crowded prisons.The state Senate passed the bill on a 45-to-4 vote on Thursday. It passed the House last week, 112-to-85.The bill has the support of prisoner advocates.Gov. Ed Rendell's office says he'll review it.Under the bill, alternative punishments to prison would be acceptable for technical parole violators.