(HARRISBURG) – The Senate Local Government Committee, chaired by state Senator Cris Dush (R-25), moved five bills out of committee today.
“I am humbled and honored to be the chair of this committee,” Senator Dush said on the Senate floor. “Local governments are the ones who take care of our constituents at the most basic levels. From the smallest township to the largest city, this committee has a tremendous responsibility to make sure that local governments are equipped to do their job.”
The committee voted to send all of the following bills to the full Senate for further consideration:
SB 477 – (Senator Judy Ward – R-30) Amends the Consolidated County Assessment Law to further define changes to real property that would require notice to the county assessment office, establish procedures for notice submission, and allows penalties for noncompliance. This bill was a product of the Local Government Commission’s Assessment Reform Task Force.
SB 478 – (Senator Dush) Authorizes political subdivisions, municipality authorities, and transportation authorities to enter into contracts for services when two consecutive advertisements fail to induce bids. Currently, the law only includes this provision for the purchase of goods and the sale of real property.
SB 479 – (Senator Scott Hutchinson – R-21) Increases ethical provisions for recovery coordinators and receivers appointed to assist financially distressed municipalities as part of the Act 47 program.
SB 480 – (Senator Tim Kearney – D-26) Amends Title 8 to make several technical changes and clarifications to modernize the Borough Code. It also creates a new chapter regarding solid waste collection and disposition that closely aligns with existing provisions in other municipal codes.
SB 524 – (Senator Gene Yaw – R 23) Amends Title 53 to permit a Home Rule question to appear only on a general election ballot and not a primary ballot. It also prohibits the filing of any ordinance or petition under the Home Rule Law for four years following an election in which any Home Rule question appeared on the ballot and was defeated.
The Local Government Committee is responsible for reviewing legislation that affects Pennsylvania’s more than 2,500 county and municipal government entities.
CONTACT: Zack Ankeny