Local Government Committee 2/2/10

The Senate Local Government Committee met on Tuesday, February 02, 2010, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

SB 916 (Erickson) The bill amends the Second Class and Second Class A County Code by revising, consolidating, and changing the laws regarding financial reporting.

SB 1019 (Erickson) This bill deletes the statutory provisions relating to the removal of elected officers for failure to perform duties in First Class Townships.

SB 1020 (Erickson) This bill amends the Act 35 of 1953 regarding incorporated towns. Specifically §2 entitled “An act providing that the town councils of incorporated towns shall have the right to declare vacant the seats of councilmen or presidents of town councils for failure to qualify and for failure to attend meetings or vote upon questions before the council.”

SB 1021 (Erickson) This legislation amends the Second Class Township Code by removing the language regarding removal for failure to perform duties in §503.

SB 1022 (Erickson) This legislation amends the Borough Code by removing the language regarding removal for failure to perform duties in §904.

SB 1023 (Erickson) This bill amends the Second Class County Code §501 (b) by changing the laws regarding a vacancy in the office of county commissioner.

SB 1024 (Erickson) This bill amends the County Code §501 (b) by changing the laws regarding a vacancy in the office of county commissioner.

SB 1059 (Robbins) The bill amends the First Class Township Code by providing for a township manager in §1502 IV

SB 1060 (Robbins) The bill amends the Second Class Township Code by providing for a township manager in Article XIII§1301.

SB 1061 (Robbins) The bill amends Act 566 of 1955 regarding the creation of the office of township manager in a incorporated town and further provide the duties

SB 1062 (Robbins) The bill amends the Borough Code §1141 and §1142 regarding the creation of and duties of the office of borough manager

SB 1063 (Robbins) The bill amends the Third Class City Code by creating the office of City Administrator or Manager of and duties of the office of borough manager.

Reported Out as Amended

HB 1515 (Ross) This bill amends the First Class Township Code (Act 331 of 1931) pertaining to municipal police and firefighter civil service provisions.

HB 1516 (Freeman) The bill amends Act 272 of 1933 pertaining to firefighter civil service provisions in third class cities.

HB 1517 (Freeman) The bill amends Third Class City Code dealing with municipal police and firefighter civil service provisions.

HB 1518 (Millard) This legislation amends Act 45 of 1941 pertaining to police civil service provisions in incorporated towns.

HB 1519 (Millard) This legislation amends Act 427 of 1945 pertaining to firefighter civil service provisions in incorporated towns.

Local Government Committee 12/16/09

The Senate Local Government Committee met on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

SB 1155 (Eichelberger) The bill amends Title 16 (Counties) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, adding provisions for required fiscal security through bonding, blanket bonding and insuring of elected and appointed county officers and employees.

HB 1609 (Freeman) The bill amends the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code further defining “traditional neighborhood developments” (TNDs) and further providing for standards, designations, guidelines, and ordinances applicable to TNDs.

SB 1091 (Vance) The bill amends the County Code, to allow people the ability to access coroner’s reports in accordance to the Right-to-Know law.

SB 1117 (Smucker) The bill amends the County Code to add an option to abolish the office of Jury Commissioner in third through eighth counties.

Reported Out as Amended

Local Government Committee 07/17/09

The Senate Local Government Committee met on Friday, July 17, 2009, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

HB 1754 (Grucela) This bill amends the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of 1968) regarding applications for residential developments or planned residential development  impact on school districts.

Reported Out as Amended

SB 285 (Orie) This bill adds one new section §507.1 and amends four other sections § 508 (4) (VI), §909.1 (B) (3), §914.1, & §916.2 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (P.L805, No.247).

HB 951 (Dally) This bill amends Act 442 of 1967 further providing for use of revenue from additional tax authority for the preservation of open spaces.

Local Government Committee 06/30/09

The Senate Local Government Committee met on Tuesday, June 30, 2009, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

SB 908 (Robbins) This legislation amends the Third Class City Code (Act 317 of 1931) pertaining to municipal police and firefighter civil service provisions. It is part of a package of bills offered by the Local Government Commission seeking to conform municipal police and firefighter civil service provisions to federal and state anti-discrimination laws.

SB 917 (Robbins) This legislation amends Act 407 of 1963 to change the County Records Committee membership from 15 to 16, and includes the gubernatorial appointment of a Clerk of Orphans’ Court to the Committee.

Reported Out as Amended

SB 909 (Robbins) This legislation amends the First Class Township Code (Act 331 of 1931) pertaining to municipal police and firefighter civil service provisions. It is part of a package of bills offered by the Local Government Commission seeking to conform municipal police and firefighter civil service provisions to federal and state anti-discrimination laws.

SB 910 (Robbins) This legislation amends the Borough Code (Act 581 of 1965) pertaining to municipal police and firefighter civil service provisions. It is part of a package of bills offered by the Local Government Commission seeking to conform municipal police and firefighter civil service provisions to federal and state anti-discrimination laws.

SB 911 (Robbins) This legislation amends Act 272 of 1933 pertaining to firefighter civil service provisions in third class cities. It is part of a package of bills offered by the Local Government Commission seeking to conform municipal police and firefighter civil service provisions to federal and state anti-discrimination laws.

SB 912 (Robbins) This legislation amends Act 427 of 1945 pertaining to firefighter civil service provisions in incorporated towns. It is part of a package of bills offered by the Local Government Commission seeking to conform municipal police and firefighter civil service provisions to federal and state anti-discrimination laws.

SB 913 (Robbins) This legislation amends Act 45 of 1941 pertaining to police civil service provisions in incorporated towns. It is part of a package of bills offered by the Local Government Commission seeking to conform municipal police and firefighter civil service provisions to federal and state anti-discrimination laws.

Local Government Committee 06/16/09

The Senate Local Government Committee met on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

HB 93 (Staback) The bill amends the PA Municipalities Planning Code to allow alternate members for the planning commission.

HB 330 (Readshaw) The bill amends the Borough Code to allow a borough mayor to receive a fee ($150) for the performance of a wedding ceremony.  The bill also increases the allowable cost for a mayor’s outside council.

Reported Out as Amended

Local Government Committee 04/28/09

The Senate Local Government Committee met on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

SB 144 (Gordner) The bill amends the Second Class Township Code to clarify that certain advertising and biding requirements would not apply to councils of governments (COGs), consortiums or similar entities.

SB 172 (Brubaker) The bill adds that real property, which is subject to a conservation easement under the Conservation and Preservation Easements Act, may be exempted from further millage increases if the land maintains its availability for agricultural use.

SB 282 (Orie) The bill clarifies that municipal authorities may enter into intergovernmental cooperation agreements with municipalities or other authorities.

SB 283 (Orie) The bill expands the Local Government Capitol Project Loan Program increasing the low-interest loan amounts for equipment purchases and facility upgrades.

Local Government Committee 03/25/09

The Senate Local Government Committee met on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

SB 168 (Brubaker) The bill amends the Borough Code by exempting contracts for the purchase of electricity from the requirement on boroughs to publicly advertise for bids.  A borough could still put such contracts out for bid if in the public interest.

SB 317 (Eichelberger) The bill amends the County Code to raise the levels at which the competitive bidding process must occur for purchases or contracts.

SB 318 (Robbins) The bill amends the Third Class City Code to raise the levels at which the competitive bidding process must occur for purchases or contracts.

SB 319 (Baker) The bill amends the Second Class Township Code to raise the levels at which the competitive bidding process must occur for purchases or contracts.

SB 320 (Eichelberger) The bill amends the First Class Township Code to raise the levels at which the competitive bidding process must occur for purchases or contracts.

SB 321 (Corman) The bill amends the Borough Code to raise the levels at which the competitive bidding process must occur for purchases or contracts.

SB 322 (Gordner) The bill amends the Act of May 27, 1953, pertaining to incorporated towns, to raise the levels at which the competitive bidding process must occur for purchases or contracts.

SB 323 (Ferlo) The bill amends Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) and Title 74 (Transportation) to raise the levels at which the competitive bidding process must occur for purchases or contracts.

SB 324 (Rafferty) The bill amends the Second Class County Code by adjusting the levels at which the competitive bidding process must occur for purchasing products or entering contracts for Counties of the Second Class or Second Class-A.

SB 325 (Ferlo) The bill amends the Municipal Flood Improvement Law by adjusting the levels at which the competitive bidding process must occur for purchasing products or entering contracts.

SB 326 (Brubaker) The bill amends the Political Subdivision Joint Purchases Law by adjusting the levels at which the competitive bidding process must occur for purchasing products or entering contracts.

SB 327 (Ferlo) The bill amends the Public Auditorium Authority Law by adjusting the levels at which the competitive bidding process must occur for purchasing products or entering contracts.

SB 419 (Robbins) The bill amends Title 45 (Legal Notice) to allow local governments to electronically publish public notices and legal advertisement required by law.

Local Government Committee 02/10/09

The Senate Local Government Committee met on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, and took action as follows:

Reported Out as Committed

SB 139 (Gordner) The bill amends the Borough Code by eliminating the office of assessor.

SB 140 (Folmer) The bill amends the First Class Township Code by eliminating the office of assessor.