Seleccionar página

Local Government 2011-2012

The Senate Local Government Committee met on Monday, September 24, 2012 to consider the following:

SB 1383, PN 1894 (Eichelberger) – This bill amends the Economic Development Financing Law to increase bid thresholds and provide for annual adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index.  The bill was reported as committed.

HB 1484, PN 3209 (Stevenson) – This bill amends the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code to provide for, upon request, the option of electronic notice or mailed notice for certain public hearings.  The bill was reported as committed.

HB 1718, PN 3804 (Creighton) – This bill amends the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code to further provide for dispute and arbitration of fees, and to specify the amount of financial security that may be retained by a municipality as public improvements are completed.  The legislation was reported as committed.

HB 1719, PN 3805 (Creighton) – This bill amends Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) to further provide for dispute and arbitration of fees, and to specify the amount of financial security that may be retained by a municipal authority as public improvements are completed.  The bill was reported as committed.

HB 2116, PN 3445 (Tallman) – This legislation amends the Local Tax Collection Law to transition township treasurers to tax collectors in first class townships.  The legislation was reported as committed.

HB 2324, PN 3399 (M. Keller) – This bill amends the Public Auditorium Authorities Law to increase bid thresholds and provide for annual adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index.  The bill was reported as committed.


The Senate Local Government Committee met on February 8, 2012 and reported out the following:

SB 1261, PN 1625 (Erickson) – Amends Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) to add storm water management planning and projects to the power of municipal authorities.  The bill was reported unanimously.

HB 823, PN 856 (Scavello) – Amends the Municipalities Planning Code to require municipalities to give monthly notice of finally-approved residential developments or planned residential developments to school superintendants for the purposes of anticipating the impact on that school district.  Senator Alloway offered Amendment A08332 to add an article to the Code requiring developers to give notice to a designated wastewater system official so the system’s capacity for increased demand may be considered or determined.  The amendment and bill were reported unanimously.


The Senate Local Government Committee met January 18, 2011 and reported out the following bill:

En su forma enmendada

House Bill 1702: This bill modernizes and codifies the Borough Code.


The Senate Local Government Committee met November 15, 2011 and reported out the following legislation:

Según lo comprometido

House Bill 1582 (Taylor) Amends Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) to grant authorities that have created business improvement districts (BID) the option of assessing residential condominiums in the same manner they currently assess apartment buildings and office buildings.

[divider top="0″]

The Senate Local Government Committee met November 1, 2011 and reported out the following bill:

As Amended
Senate Bill 1323 (Earll): Amends Act 47 to clarify the collective bargaining agreement.


The Senate Local Government Committee met September 27, 2011 and reported out the following bills:

Según lo comprometido

Senate Bill 961 (Tomlinson): An Act amending the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code, in sheriff and coroner, further providing for official records of coroner.

House Bill 755 (Gabler): Amends the County Code to increase the annual meeting and dues expenses allowed for county directors of veterans’ affairs from a maximum of $100 to a maximum of $400.

House Bill 1644 (Dunbar): Amends the County Code to allow the sale of township personal property through electronic auctions.

En su forma enmendada

House Bills 278-282; 284, 286, 288-292, & 294 (Kellar): Amend various municipal codes to increase the threshold at which counties must use competitive bidding and public advertising; and to increase the threshold at which three telephonic price quotes are required These amounts, which have not been adjusted since 1990, will be adjusted by the Department of Labor and Industry based on the Consumer Price Index. The bills also provide for violations for evasive practices involving contracts being broken up to avoid the threshold amounts

[divider top="0″]

The Senate Local Government Committee met June 28, 2011 and reported out the following bill unanimously.

HB 1549 (Masser): Amends the County Code to adjust the population thresholds of fifth and sixth class counties and provides for the election of certain county offficers in counties advancing from fifth to fourth class.


The Senate Local Government Committee met 6-21-11 and unanimously reported out the following as committed:

SB 394: This bill adds a definition for “conservation easement” and further provides for local taxing options by exempting from further millage increases real property that is subject to a conservation easement if the land meets certain enumerated standards.

SB 401: This bill allows one or more local governments to enter into an agreement with one or more municipal authorities.

SB 402: This bill allows for DCED to give priority to applications for funds from the Local Government Capital Project Loan Program that promotes municipal cooperation. Also, the bill increases the maximum amount loans can be made for equipment to $50,000 and facility upgrades to $100,000 and increases the terms to 15 years.

SB 1130: This bill amends Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) adding a subsection to provide for the municipal sewer authority to seek the shut-off of sewer service to commercial properties after six months of delinquent payment.

HB 1448: This bill amends Incorporated Town Managers act, regarding the creation of the office of borough manager.

HB 1449: This bill amends the Borough Code regarding the creation of, and duties of the office of borough manager.

HB 1459: This legislation amends the Third Class City Code regarding general provisions relating to appointment by the city council to include appointments made by department heads, including the mayor.

HB 1460: This bill amends the First Class Townships Code by adding language to clarify that background investigations of candidates for original appointments may be restricted to those candidates on an eligibility list submitted by the civil service commission or those certified for hiring and clarify that fitness and agility examinations and medical and psychological examinations may be components of promotion examinations.

HB 1461: This bill amends the Borough Code to clarify that background investigations of candidates for original appointments may be restricted to those candidates on an eligibility list submitted by the civil service commission or those certified for hiring and clarify that fitness and agility examinations and medical and psychological examinations may be components of promotion examinations.


The Senate Local Government Committee met April 12, 2011 and reported out the following bills:

Como comprometido:

Senate Bill 725 (Gordner):  Amends the Borough Code to eliminate the elective office of assessor in boroughs.

Senate Bill 726 (Folmer):  Amends the First Class Township Code to eliminate the elective office of assesor

Senate Bill 828 (Robbins):  This bill amends the First Class Township Code by providing for a township manager

Senate Bill 829 (Robbins):  This bill amends the Second Class Township Code by providing for a township manager.

Senate Bill 830 (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 manager.

Senate Bill 831 (Robbins):  The bill amends the Borough Code regarding the creation of, and duties of the office of borough manager.

Senate Bill 832 (Robbins):  This bill amends Incorporated Town Mangers act, regarding the creation of the office of borough manager.

Senate Bill 834 (Eichelberger):  This bill would amend the County Code to permit the county commissioners from counties of the second through the eighth class to set (in most cases) the amount of security and to select the form of the security that would be used to protect counties in the event of fiduciary loss by a county official or employee acting in a fiduciary capacity with regard to county or Commonwealth funds or property.

Senate Resolution 44, (Robbins):  Designates the week of April 10 through 16, 2011, as “Local Government Week” and April 15, 2011, as “Local Government Day” in Pennsylvania

En su forma enmendada

Senate Bill 375 (Pileggi):  Amends Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to prohibit municipal authorities from making expenditures outside of their purpose/articles of incorporation. The bill was amended to remove the liability of board members who approved the expenditure.  Instead, the amendment would provide for a ratepayer cause of action, already found in other parts of Title 53 (Municipalities Generally.)

Senate Bill 386 (Smucker): Amends the County Code to give third through eighth class counties the option to abolish the office of Jury Commissioner. The bill was amended to include Counties of the 2-A class.


The Senate Local Government Committee met February 14, 2011 and reported out the following legislation.

Senate Bill 281 (Eichelberger):  Amends the County Code to increase the threshold at which counties must use competitive bidding and public advertising from $10,000 to $25,000

Senate Bill 282(Robbins):  Amends the Third Class Cities Code to increase the threshold at which cities must use competitive bidding and public advertising from $10,000 to $25,000

Senate Bill 283(Baker):  Amends the Second Class Township Code to increase the threshold at which towns must use competitive bidding and public advertising from $10,000 to $25,000

Senate Bill 284(Eichelberger):  Amends the First Class Township Code to increase the threshold at which towns must use competitive bidding and public advertising from $10,000 to $25,000.

Senate Bill 285(Folmer):  Amends the Borough Code to increase the threshold at which boroughs must use competitive bidding and public advertising from $10,000 to $25,000

Senate Bill 286(Gordner):  Amends the Incorporated Towns Act to increase the threshold at which towns must use competitive bidding and public advertising from $10,000 to $25,000

Senate Bill 287(Ferlo):  Amends Title 53 (Municipalities) and Title 74 (Transportation) to increase the threshold at which relevant authorities must use competitive bidding and public advertising from $10,000 to $25,000.

Senate Bill 288 (Rafferty):  Amends the Second Class County Code to increase the threshold at which counties must use competitive bidding and public advertising from $10,000 to $25,000.

Senate Bill 289(Ferlo):  Amends the Municipal Floor Improvement Law to increase the threshold at which municipalities must use competitive bidding and public advertising from $10,000 to $25,000.

Senate Bill 290(Brubaker):  Amends the Political Subdivision Joint Purchases Law to increase the threshold at which local governments must use competitive bidding and public advertising from $10,000 to $25,000

Senate Bill 291 (Ferlo):  Amends the Public Auditorium Authorities Law to increase the threshold at which authorities must use competitive bidding and public advertising from $10,000 to $25,000.

Senate Bill 357(Eichelberger):  This legislation amends the Borough Code to allow for the sale of personal property by online or electric auction.

Senate Bill 358(Eichelberger):  This legislation amends the First Class Township Code to allow for the sale of personal property by online or electric auction.

Senate Bill 359(Eichelberger):  This legislation amends the Incorporated Towns Act to allow for the sale of personal property by online or electric auction.

Senate Bill 360(Eichelberger):  This legislation amends the Third Class City Code to allow for the sale of personal property by online or electric auction.