PRINTER'S NO. 1269
No. 1078 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY ROSS, TANGRETTI, DALLY, COY, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BELFANTI, BROWNE, BUNT, CAWLEY, CIVERA, CORRIGAN, CRAHALLA, CRUZ, DAILEY, DALEY, DeWEESE, FAIRCHILD, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GOODMAN, GORDNER, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARHART, HENNESSEY, HORSEY, KELLER, KOTIK, LAUGHLIN, LEACH, LEWIS, MACKERETH, MANN, MARSICO, McCALL, McGEEHAN, R. MILLER, NAILOR, PICKETT, READSHAW, REICHLEY, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SANTONI, SHANER, SOLOBAY, STERN, STURLA, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TIGUE, WANSACZ, WOJNAROSKI AND YUDICHAK, APRIL 8, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, APRIL 8, 2003
AN ACT 1 Amending the act of June 27, 1996 (P.L.403, No.58), entitled "An 2 act to enhance community and economic development in this 3 Commonwealth by restructuring certain administrative 4 functions and entities; changing the name of the Department 5 of Commerce to the Department of Community and Economic 6 Development; transferring functions of the Department of 7 Community Affairs into the Department of Community and 8 Economic Development and other agencies; providing for a 9 Deputy Secretary for Community Affairs and Development in the 10 Department of Community and Economic Development; 11 establishing the Center for Local Government Services and the 12 Local Government Advisory Committee; establishing the Small 13 Business Advocacy Council; conferring powers and duties on 14 the Legislative Reference Bureau; and making repeals," 15 designating the center for local government services as the 16 agency to act as an advocate for municipal police at the 17 State level. 18 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 19 hereby enacts as follows: 20 Section 1. Section 301 of the act of June 27, 1996 (P.L.403, 21 No.58), known as the Community and Economic Development
1 Enhancement Act, is amended by adding subsections to read: 2 Section 301. To Department of Community and Economic 3 Development. 4 * * * 5 (c.1) In addition to the powers and duties of the center as 6 provided in accordance with subsection (c), the center also 7 shall serve as a State-level advocate in connection with matters 8 of concern to, and regarding, municipal police. In its role as 9 State-level advocate for municipal police, the primary mission 10 of the center shall be to serve as a clearinghouse for 11 information relevant to municipal police, to provide an expanded 12 level of studies and reports on municipal police issues, to 13 encourage appropriate municipal police regionalization and to 14 provide consulting services to municipal police departments. In 15 fulfilling its mission as municipal police advocate, the center 16 shall have the following powers and duties: 17 (1) Maintaining a continuing liaison with the 18 Commonwealth's municipal law enforcement agencies and the 19 Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. 20 (2) Developing and maintaining a database of all 21 Federal, State and private sources, of financial and 22 technical assistance available to local law enforcement 23 agencies and to communicate this information to municipal 24 police officials. 25 (3) Responding to inquiries from municipal law 26 enforcement agencies and providing referrals where 27 appropriate. 28 (4) Administering financial assistance programs already 29 or hereafter provided by statute in accordance with 30 appropriate regulation. 20030H1078B1269 - 2 -
1 (5) Under the direction of the secretary, serving as the 2 lead agency and advocate for municipal law enforcement in 3 State policy formation and decision making regarding 4 municipal police functions and resources, but this advocacy 5 function shall not include or extend to matters involving 6 employer-employee relations. 7 (6) Under the direction of the secretary, issuing an 8 annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the 9 center's activities as municipal police advocate and on the 10 state of local law enforcement in this Commonwealth, along 11 with recommendations for legislation. 12 (c.2) In the promotion and facilitation of joint initiatives 13 by political subdivisions in accordance with section 301(a)(2), 14 the department shall allocate to shared municipal police 15 services and activities at least 35% of the State appropriation 16 for shared municipal services generally, provided, however, that 17 the 35% minimum allocation to shared municipal police services 18 and activities shall not be applied to any portion of the State 19 appropriation for land use planning that is designated to 20 promote joint land use initiatives among municipalities. 21 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days. B5L14DMS/20030H1078B1269 - 3 -