Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | August 14, 2023 01:52 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Marla Brown |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Removal of Local Elected Officials |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce a joint resolution to provide for the removal of local elected officials. We have seen it too often where a local official neglects the duties of their office and their constituents must wait until the next municipal election to remove them from office. The Constitution provides the method for removing a municipal official before their term expires but this impeachment process is long and protracted. To get the Governor upon concurrence of two-thirds of the State Senate to remove your local elected official is unlikely. There needs to be a simpler way to remove officials who have violated the public trust and abused the office they were elected to serve in. This bill I am introducing does just that. The bill would amend Article IX of the Pennsylvania Constitution by adding a section that authorizes the General Assembly to enact legislation that would prescribe additional methods for removing a municipal official for specific enumerated reasons which are absenteeism from meetings, dereliction of duty, inappropriate moral conduct or abuse of power. If approved by the voters of the Commonwealth this constitutional amendment and the subsequent legislation will provide municipalities with the power to properly hold elected officials accountable and to remove those officials from their positions in a timely and orderly manner. I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB1718
Memo Updated: August 14, 2023 01:53 PM