1Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
2conduct a study concerning the consolidation or merger of
3municipal police departments in this Commonwealth.

4WHEREAS, There are 1,124 municipal police departments serving
5the citizens of this Commonwealth; and

6WHEREAS, This Commonwealth currently faces a period of fiscal
7concern that requires each level of government in this 
8Commonwealth to consider avenues of potential reduction in costs
9and expenditures; and

10WHEREAS, One potential way to reduce costs while continuing
11to ensure public safety is to consolidate or merge municipal
12police departments; therefore be it

13RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
14Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study
15concerning the consolidation or merger of municipal police
16departments in this Commonwealth; and be it further

17RESOLVED, That the study include an analysis of the funding
18of municipal police departments and provide recommendations

1necessary to improve the manner in which municipal police
2departments are funded throughout this Commonwealth; and be it
3further

4RESOLVED, That the study include an exploration of additional
5ways in which municipalities can determine and share the costs
6of police services, such as purchasing services in this
7Commonwealth; and be it further

8RESOLVED, That the study include an analysis of any potential
9savings that may result from the consolidation or merger of
10municipal police departments or otherwise sharing police
11services, such as purchasing services in this Commonwealth; and
12be it further

13RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
14provide suggested guidelines to assist municipalities with a 
15municipal police department to identify those municipal police
16departments best suited for consolidation or merger; and be it
17further

<-18RESOLVED, That the study include an approximation of the cost
19to the Pennsylvania State Police to patrol municipalities with
20either a part-time municipal police department or no municipal
21police department; and be it further

22RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee 
23prepare a report with its analysis and recommendations and 
24transmit a copy of the report to the chairman, minority chairman 
25and all members of the Local Government Committee of the House 
26of Representatives within one year of the adoption of this 
27resolution.