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Pennsylvania State Senate
12/27/2024 06:46 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20250&chamber=S&cosponId=43608
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2025 - 2026 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: December 2, 2024 04:53 PM
From: Senator Nick Miller
To: All Senate members
Subject: Comprehensive Housing Commissioners Training
 
In the near future, I will be reintroducing legislation implementing training practices for housing authority commissioners across the Commonwealth.  Pennsylvania’s Housing Authorities Law is currently silent on ensuring that best practices in baseline and continuing education are in place for serving members.
 
As these commissioners comprise the governing body of our housing authorities, their critical local leadership enables a housing agency to fulfill its mission of providing attainable housing for members of the community. Training will help to ensure that commissioners are current on fundamentals such as fiscal management tools and fiduciary responsibility.  Effective training standards will better assist as they work closely with each executive director, local officials and members of their communities.
 
My legislation will propose the development of training standards encompassing the following areas:
 
Ethics, Right-to-Know Law, and open meetings;
Fair housing fundamentals and protections, reasonable accommodations, and prevention of hate, harassment and discriminatory practices;
Fiscal management, budgeting and capital planning;
Board governance best practices and fiduciary responsibilities;
Best practices relating to building code compliance, including the general inspection, maintenance and repair of units;
Strategies for crime prevention and substance use/mental health resources; and other topics deemed appropriate.

Our neighboring state New Jersey codified similar programming as their Local Housing Authority and Municipal Redevelopment Agency Training program requiring commissioners of local public housing authorities and redevelopment agencies to gain critical skills and education.  These practices are overseen by their state’s Community Affairs Department and championed by the NJ National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NJNAHRO).
 
This is a reintroduction of Senate Bill 1282 of the 2023-24 session. Cosponsors included: Costa, Fontana and Kearney. I invite you to join me in lending your support as a cosponsor of this legislation.




Memo Updated: December 2, 2024 04:54 PM