Local Government Committee 03/27/06

The Senate Local Government Committee met Tuesday, March 27, 2007 and reported out the following:

SR 21- This resolution designates April 15 through 21, 2007, as “Local Government Week” in Pennsylvania. 
The resolution was reported unanimously, 11-0.

Local Government Committee 06/27/06

The Senate Local Government Committee met on Tuesday, June 27, 2006, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed (Unanimous)

HB 2064 (Boyd) The bill amends The Borough Code by making changes to assessments and permitting boroughs to
cooperate with non-profit corporations for the purpose of acquiring property.

HB 2065 (Boyd) The bill amends The First Class Township Code by making changes to assessments and permitting
first class townships to cooperate with non-profit corporations for the purpose of acquiring property.

HB 2066 (Boyd) The bill amends The Second Class Township Code by making changes to assessments and
permitting first class townships to cooperate with non-profit corporations for the purpose of acquiring property.

HB 2441 (Boyd) The bill amends Title 62 (Procurement) to create the “Local Government Unit Electronic Bidding
Act”. 

Reported Out as Amended (Unanimous)

Local Government Committee 05/03/06

The Senate Local Government Committee met on Tuesday, May 3, 2006 and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed (unanimously)

HB 2158 (Rapp) - This bill amends Act of August 9, 1955 (P.L. 323, No. 130), The County Code, by increasing the
amount that may be charged to each county for its involvement in a directors of veterans’ affairs association from $100
to $400.

HB 2003 (Major) - This bill amends Act of August 9, 1955 (P.L. 323, No. 130), The County Code, by removing the
requirement that county commissioners get the approval of the court of common pleas when appointing special counsel.

HB 2185 (Tangretti) - This bill amends the Act of August 9, 1955 (P.L. 323, No. 130), The County Code, by extending
the time that a county controller has to submit its annual financial reports to the Department of Community and
Economic Development.

HB 2186 (Tangretti) - This bill amends the Act of July 28, 1953 (P.L. 723, No. 230), The Second Class County Code,
by extending the time that a county controller has to submit its annual financial reports.

Local Government Committee 03/28/06

The Senate Local Government Committee met today and reported out the following bills as committed:

SB 514 (Gordner) - This bill amends the Act of May 21, 1943 (P.L., 571, No. 254), also known as The Fourth to
Eighth Class County Assessment Law.  The bill removes “assessors” as an elected office of second class townships,
and changes it to an appointment to be filled by the township supervisors. 

HB 249 (Miller) - This bill amends the Act of May 1, 1933 (P.L. 103, No. 69), also known as the Second Class
Township Code.  The bill enables township supervisors to require property owners whose principal building is within
150 feet of a water system provided by the township a municipal authority or joint water board to connect with and
use the system. 

The Senate Local Government Committee reported out the following bills as amended:

SB 513 (Gordner) - This bill amends the Act of May 1, 1933 (P.L. 103, No. 69), also known as the Second Class
Township Code.  The bill removes “assessors” as an elected office of these municipalities, and changes it to an
appointment to be filled by the township supervisors. 

SB 1114 (Robbins) - This bill amends the Act of May 1, 1933 (P.L. 103, No. 69), also known as the Second Class
Township Code.  The bill permits for township officials attending a county association’s annual or semi-annual meeting
to be reimbursed for their attendance and expenses for that day.

Local Government Committee 12/14/05

The Senate Local Government Committee met today and reported out the following bills as committed:

SB 928 (Thompson)   The bill amends Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
to authorize certain donations by political subdivisions.

SB 986 (Lemmond)   The bill amends Section 1504 (Personal Property) of the Second Class Township Code by
allowing townships to sell township property through an online or electronic auction.

HB 893 (Semmel)   This bill amends Act 98 of 1949, titled the “Allowing Water Companies to Suspend Service for
Non-Payment Act,” by inserting an additional notice requirement and adding a section providing for compliance of
the provisions listed in the “Utility Service Tenants Rights Act” prior to discontinuing service to tenants in a residential
building.

Local Government Committee 10/18/05

The Senate Local Government Committee met today and reported the following bill from Committee:

SB 214, PN 206: This bill allows for a $35 fee to be charged to the defendant when municipal police execute a warrant
or effectuate the payment of a fine.

House Bill 102, Printer Number 95 was brought up for consideration failed by a vote of 1-11.

House Bill 183, Printer Number 187 was tabled.  Amendment A03064 was offered and failed by a vote of 5-6.

Local Government Committee 6/21/05

The Senate Local Government Committee met on Tuesday June 21, 2005 and reported out the following bills as
committed:

Senate Bill 654 (Kasunic): This bill forbids the assessment boards in counties of the second class A and third
class from imposing a fee relating to an appeal of an assessment.

House Bill 87 (Steil): This legislation adds a definition of “Municipal Corporation” to be a city, borough, incorporated
town or township and removes the requirement that any property acquired in ‘fee simple’ by a local government unit
shall be offered for resale publicly within two years of the date of acquisition, subject to restrictive covenants or
easements limiting the land to open space uses.  This legislation provides for an exemption from further millage
increases shall be effective only if the governing body of each taxing district that imposes a tax on real property
approves the exemption either by ordinance in the case of a county or municipal corporation, or by resolution in the
case of a school district.

The Senate Local Government Committee reported out the following bills as amended:

House Bill 136 (Fleagle): This legislation states that appropriations made to non-profit watershed associations by
the board of supervisors of a Second Class Township may not be used for litigation against any municipal corporation
or individual landowner.

House Bill 266 (Fleagle): This legislation states that appropriations made to non-profit watershed associations by
a Borough may not be used for litigation against any municipal corporation or individual landowner. 

House Bill 267 (Fleagle): This legislation states that appropriations made to non-profit watershed associations by
the board of supervisors of a First Class Township may not be used for litigation against any municipal corporation
or individual landowner. 

Senate Bill 565 (Lemmond): This bill makes the position of District Attorney full time in counties of the third, fourth,
fifth, sixth and seventh class and counties of the eighth class under certain circumstances.

Local Government Committee 6/14/05

The Senate Local Government Committee met on Tuesday June 14, 2005 and reported out the following bill as amended:

Senate Bill 565 (Lemmond): The bill amends the qualifications to be District Attorney and makes the position full time in
counties of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh class and counties of the eighth class under certain circumstances.

Local Government Committee 3/15/05

The Senate Local Government Committee met on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 and reported the following bills:

As Committed (unanimously)

Senate Bill 291 (PN 298) The article would allow for two or more municipalities located within, or partially within a
watershed to enter into joint watershed cooperative agreements. 

Senate Bill 270 (PN 277) This legislation would require that all municipalities submit and adopt a balanced budget using
documented collected revenues and not projected revenues from any new, yet to be established taxing powers that would
require new legislation passed by the General Assembly.

Senate Bill 125 (PN 108) This bill would allow, but not require, the Attorney General to make annual audits of drug
forfeiture funds public. 

Senate Resolution 23 (PN 252) A Resolution designating the week of April 10 through 16, 2005, as "Local Government 
Week" in Pennsylvania.

The following bill passed unanimously with amendment

Senate Bill 62 (PN 406) This bill would allow for municipalities to enter into electronic bidding.  Amendment 00133, which
also passed unanimously, calls for all bidding to be advertised to the public.

The following bill was defeated

Senate Bill 173 (PN 164) This bill would have allowed for governing bodies in counties of the seventh class to abolish the
office of jury commissioner.  The vote was 5-6 against.