Bill Text: PA HB1287 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: An Act amending the act of June 5, 1941 (P.L.84, No.45), entitled "An act providing for and regulating the appointment, promotion and reduction in rank, suspension and removal of paid members of the police force in boroughs, incorporated towns and townships of the first class maintaining a police force of not less than three members; creating a civil service commission in each borough, incorporated town and township of the first class; defining the duties of such civil service commission; imposing certain duties and expense on boroughs, incorporated towns and townships of the first class; imposing penalties, and repealing inconsistent laws," further providing for removals, suspensions or reductions in rank of police officers; and providing for certain incompatible offices.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 26-5)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-06-30 - Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS [HB1287 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB1287-Amended.html

  

 

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1525

PRINTER'S NO.  1684

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

1287

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY CASORIO, BRENNAN, BURNS, CALTAGIRONE, DALLY, DEASY, FABRIZIO, GERGELY, GINGRICH, HALUSKA, HARHAI, HARKINS, KOTIK, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MANN, MATZIE, MURPHY, PYLE, REED, SEIP, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, YOUNGBLOOD, YUDICHAK, GIBBONS AND D. COSTA, APRIL 20, 2009

  

  

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 28, 2009   

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending the act of June 5, 1941 (P.L.84, No.45), entitled "An

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act providing for and regulating the appointment, promotion

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and reduction in rank, suspension and removal of paid members

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of the police force in boroughs, incorporated towns and

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townships of the first class maintaining a police force of

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not less than three members; creating a civil service

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commission in each borough, incorporated town and township of

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the first class; defining the duties of such civil service

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commission; imposing certain duties and expense on boroughs,

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incorporated towns and townships of the first class; imposing

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penalties, and repealing inconsistent laws," further

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providing for removals, suspensions or reductions in rank of

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police officers; and providing for certain incompatible

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offices.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Section 20 of the act of June 5, 1941 (P.L.84,

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No.45), entitled "An act providing for and regulating the

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appointment, promotion and reduction in rank, suspension and

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removal of paid members of the police force in boroughs,

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incorporated towns and townships of the first class maintaining

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a police force of not less than three members; creating a civil

 


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service commission in each borough, incorporated town and

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township of the first class; defining the duties of such civil

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service commission; imposing certain duties and expense on

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boroughs, incorporated towns and townships of the first class;

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imposing penalties, and repealing inconsistent laws," amended

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May 9, 1984 (P.L.256, No.58), is amended to read:

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Section 20.  Removals.--No person employed in any police

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department of any political subdivision shall be suspended,

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removed or reduced in rank, except for the following reasons:

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(1) physical or mental disability affecting his ability to

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continue in service, in which cases the person shall receive an

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honorable discharge from service; (2) neglect or violation of

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any official duty; (3) violation of any law of this Commonwealth

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which provides that such violation constitutes a misdemeanor or

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felony; (4) inefficiency, neglect, intemperance, disobedience of

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orders or conduct unbecoming an officer; (5) intoxication while

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on duty; (6) engaging or participating in the conducting of any

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political or election campaign while on duty or in uniform 

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otherwise than to exercise his own right of suffrage. A person

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so employed shall not be removed for religious, racial or

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political reasons. A written statement of any charges made

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against any person so employed shall be furnished to such person

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within five days after the same are filed.

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If for reasons of economy or other reasons it shall be deemed

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necessary by any municipality to reduce the number of paid

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employes of the police department, then such political

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subdivision shall apply the following procedure: (a) if there

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are any employes eligible for retirement under the terms of any

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retirement or pension law, then such reduction in numbers shall

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be made by retirement if the party to be retired exceeds the

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maximum age as defined in the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744,

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No.222), known as the "Pennsylvania Human Relations Act"; (b) if

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the number of paid employes in the police force eligible to

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retirement is insufficient to effect the necessary reduction in

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numbers, or if there are no persons eligible for retirement, or

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if no retirements or pension fund exist, then the reduction

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shall be effected by furloughing the man or men, including

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probationers last appointed to said police force. Such removal

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shall be accomplished by furloughing in numerical order,

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commencing with the man last appointed until such reduction

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shall have been accomplished. In the event the said police force

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shall again be increased the employes furloughed shall be

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reinstated in the order of their seniority in the service.

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Section 2.  The act is amended by adding a section to read:

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Section 20.1.  Incompatible Offices.--(a)  A police officer

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may not hold an elective office of the municipality that employs

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the police officer.

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(b)  A police officer who is employed by a regional

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department, council of government or other cooperative venture

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may not hold an elective office of any municipality that

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participates in the regional department, council of government

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or other cooperative venture.

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Section 2 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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