Bill Text: PA HB487 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Providing for cooperation between political subdivisions and for the award of grants to recognize such cooperation.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 7-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-02-18 - Referred to LOCAL GOVERNMENT [HB487 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB487-Introduced.html

  

 

    

PRINTER'S NO.  539

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

487

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY ARGALL, GEIST, GINGRICH, GROVE, HARPER, LONGIETTI, MURT, SIPTROTH AND VULAKOVICH, FEBRUARY 18, 2009

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 18, 2009  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Providing for cooperation between political subdivisions and for

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the award of grants to recognize such cooperation.

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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.  Short title.

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This act shall be known and may be cited as the Political

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Subdivision Communication and Cooperation Act.

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Section 2.  Definitions.

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The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

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have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

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context clearly indicates otherwise:

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"Department."  The Department of Community and Economic

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Development of the Commonwealth.

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"Governing body."  The council in a city, borough and

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incorporated town, the board of commissioners in a county, the

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board of commissioners in a township of the first class, the

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board of supervisors in a township of the second class, or the

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legislative policymaking body in a home rule municipality and

 


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the board of school directors in a school district.

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"Municipality."  A city, borough, incorporated town, township

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or other similar home rule charter or optional plan

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municipality.

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Section 3.  Joint meetings.

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(a)  Counties.--At least once every three months, the

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governing body of a county shall participate in a joint meeting

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with the governing body of at least one other contiguous county.

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(b)  Municipalities.--At least once every three months, the

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governing body of a municipality shall participate in a joint

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meeting with the governing body of at least one other contiguous

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municipality.

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(c)  School district.--At least once every three months, the

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governing body of a school district shall participate in a joint

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meeting with the governing body of each municipality that is

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situate partly or wholly within the school district.

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(d)  Nature of discussions.--At these joint meetings, the

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members of the governing body may discuss items including, but

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not limited to, areas of common interest, mutual goals, current

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or proposed programs, potential cost-cutting efforts and the

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ability to achieve greater economies by working in a cooperative

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fashion.

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(e)  Reports.--By February 1 of each year, each county,

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municipality and school district shall submit a one-page report

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summarizing any meetings held under to this act to the

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department.

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(f)  Existing forums.--Participation in an existing

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association, organization or forum shall be an acceptable

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meeting for the purposes of this act as long as a contiguous

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county, municipality or school district is involved and the

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entire governing body is able to participate in the meeting.

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(g)  Notice.--Each year the department shall send a notice to

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any county, municipality and school district that fails to

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participate in a meeting required by this act. The notice shall

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also note the benefits and cost savings that may be achieved by

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communicating with neighboring jurisdictions and participating

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in cooperative programs.

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Section 4.  Recognition of effort.

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(a)  General rule.--Each year, as part of the Governor's

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Award for Local Government Excellence, the Governor's Center for

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Local Government Services shall review the reports submitted by

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political subdivisions and recognize the most significant and

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successful intergovernmental cooperation effort. The Governor's

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Center for Local Government Services may request additional

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information on intergovernmental cooperation efforts in order to

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determine which project or projects to recognize.

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(b)  Grants.--The department shall provide grants from funds

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appropriated to it to support the projects the Governor's Center

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for Local Government Services has chosen to recognize under this

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act. The department shall determine the number and amount of the

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grants.

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Section 5.  Effective date.

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This act shall take effect January 1, 2010.

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