Title 53, MUNICIPALITIES GENERALLY

With respect to local offices for which the legislative bodies of municipalities may enact resolutions or ordinances relative to the manner in which vacancies will be filled or temporary appointments to office made, the legislative bodies are authorized to enact resolutions or or…

This section is applicable to officers of municipalities not included in section 1134 (relating to enabling authority for emergency interim successors for local offices). Each officer, subject to any regulations as the executive head of the municipality may issue, shall designate…

Prior to taking up the duties to which they may temporarily succeed, emergency interim successors shall take an oath as may be required for the office to which they may succeed.

Emergency interim successors may exercise the powers and discharge the duties of an office as authorized in this subchapter only after an attack has occurred. The General Assembly, by concurrent resolution, may terminate the authority of the emergency interim successors to exerci…

Until the persons designated as emergency interim successors are authorized to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of an office in accordance with this subchapter, including section 1137 (relating to succession period), these persons may be removed or replaced by the des…

Whenever an elected or appointed official of a municipality is required to take, subscribe or file an oath or affirmation of office, the oath or affirmation shall be in the form prescribed in this section, as follows: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey and …

(a) General rule.--A person's active military duty shall not disqualify the person from fulfilling a residency requirement imposed by a municipal code or charter as a qualification of elected office or to fill a vacancy of elected office. (b) Deemed residency.--For purposes of su…

(a) Vacant land.--Notwithstanding 42 Pa.C.S. § 5527.1 (relating to ten year limitation), the following shall apply: (1) In cities of the first class, a possessor may acquire title to privately owned vacant land under this section in an action to quiet title under subsection (b). …

(a) Short title of subchapter.--This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the Municipal Records Act. (b) Scope of subchapter.--This subchapter applies to the following entities: (1) A city of the third class, borough, incorporated town, township of the first class or tow…

The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Commission." The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. "Committee." The Local Government Records Committee.…

Public records may be disposed of if the disposition is in conformity with schedules and regulations which are promulgated by the committee as established by section 1385 (relating to Local Government Records Committee). (Feb. 18, 1998, P.L.175, No.27, eff. 60 days)

The commission, in cooperation with the several associations of municipal officials and related Commonwealth agencies, shall make a study of public records and shall prepare proposed retention and disposition schedules for submission to the committee for its approval and advise e…

(a) Establishment.--There shall be established under the commission the Local Government Records Committee which shall consist of the Auditor General, the State Treasurer, the General Counsel, the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Secret…

(a) Disposition generally.--Whenever a schedule is approved by the committee, a copy shall be filed with the commission which shall, through appropriate means, notify the entities that the schedule has been approved. Upon such notification, the schedule becomes effective and may …

An official shall not be held liable on his official bond for damages for loss or in any other manner, civil or criminal, because of the disposition of public records pursuant to the provisions of this subchapter.

(a) Authorized methods.--Records may be recorded or copied in conformance with section 1 of the act of May 9, 1949 (P.L.908, No.250), entitled "An act relating to public records of political subdivisions other than cities and counties of the first class; authorizing the recording…

This subchapter is intended as a supplement to existing statutes. The existing statutes which provide for destruction may be utilized by officials in lieu of compliance with this subchapter. Nothing in this subchapter shall prevent officials from retaining records longer than the…

2013 Effectuation of Declaration of Unconstitutionality. The Legislative Reference Bureau effectuated the 2004 unconstitutionality. 2004 Unconstitutionality. Act 230 of 2002 was declared unconstitutional. City of Philadelphia v. Commonwealth, 838 A.2d 566 (Pa. 2003).

(a) Prohibition.--A municipality shall not charge a fee for or seek reimbursement of costs or expenses incurred as a result of municipal police responding to a motor vehicle accident, including, but not limited to, costs incurred for labor, materials, supplies or equipment used o…

(a) Municipal police officers' education and training program.--The commission shall establish a municipal police officers' education and training program in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter. The administration of this program shall be the responsibility of the P…

The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Approval." The assignment of an approval number to an instructor or school director who meets the requirements estab…

(a) Selection.--The commission shall be composed of 20 members as follows: (1) The following members shall serve by virtue of their office: (i) The Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police who shall serve as chairman of the commission. (ii) The Secretary of Community and Eco…

The powers and duties of the commission shall be as follows: (1) To establish and administer the minimum courses of study for basic and in-service training for police officers and to revoke an officer's certification when an officer fails to comply with the basic and in-service t…

The commission shall meet at least four times each year. Special meetings may be called by the chairman of the commission or upon written request of five members. A quorum shall consist of 11 members.

This subchapter shall not be construed to exempt any police officer or other officer or employee from the provisions of the existing civil service or tenure laws.

2003 Repeal. Section 2166.1 was repealed December 30, 2003, P.L.450, No.65, effective immediately.

(a) General rule.--All municipalities of this Commonwealth or groups of municipalities acting in concert and all colleges and universities shall be required to train all members of their police departments pursuant to this subchapter prior to their enforcing criminal laws, enforc…

(a) General rule.--All police officers, including deputy sheriffs in counties of the second class, hired prior to June 18, 1974, shall be automatically certified for basic training but shall be required to complete the in-service training as set forth in section 2164(7) (relating…

The requirements of section 2164(7) (relating to powers and duties of commission) shall apply to every police officer.

(a) General rule.--The commission shall provide for reimbursement to each municipality of the entire amount of the allowable tuition and the ordinary and necessary living and travel expenses incurred by their police officers while attending certified municipal police basic traini…

(a) Second class counties.--Counties of the second class shall be liable for costs incurred for the certification of deputy sheriffs. The costs shall not exceed the sum per police officer assessed against municipalities. (b) Counties generally.--Counties shall be liable for the c…

(a) Establishment.--The commission, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania State Police and municipal police department canine units or officers, shall establish police officer canine training and certification standards, including all of the following: (1) Standards for initial …

An ordinance adopted by a municipality which requires or the effect of which is to require the provision of health insurance or other employee health care benefits shall not apply to a State-owned or State-related college or university. Municipal Ordinances. Section 5 of Act 49 o…

This subchapter applies to all local governments.

The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Local government." A county, city of the second class, second class A and third class, borough, incorporated town, t…

(a) General rule.--Two or more local governments in this Commonwealth may jointly cooperate, or any local government may jointly cooperate with any similar entities located in any other state, in the exercise or in the performance of their respective governmental functions, power…

A municipality by act of its governing body may, or upon being required by initiative and referendum in the area affected shall, cooperate or agree in the exercise of any function, power or responsibility with or delegate or transfer any function, power or responsibility to one o…

(a) Ordinance or resolution.--A local government may enter into intergovernmental cooperation with or delegate any functions, powers or responsibilities to another governmental unit, local government or authority as defined in section 5602 (relating to definitions) upon the passa…

(a) Initiative.--An initiative under this subchapter shall be commenced by filing with the appropriate election officials at least 90 days prior to the next primary or general election a petition containing a proposal for referendum signed by electors comprising 5% of the number …

The ordinance or resolution adopted by the governing body of a local government entering into intergovernmental cooperation or delegating or transferring any functions, powers or responsibilities to another local government, an authority as defined in section 5602 (relating to de…

(a) Notice.--All joint purchases involving an expenditure of more than a base amount of $18,500, subject to adjustment under subsection (b), shall be made by contract, in writing, only after notice for bids once a week for two weeks in at least one and not more than two newspaper…

In addition to joint purchases authorized by section 2308 (relating to bids for certain joint purchases), local governments may make direct purchases from vendors or suppliers of goods, materials or equipment without compliance with existing and otherwise applicable statutory req…

Any local government may, by ordinance or resolution, authorize joint purchases of materials, supplies and equipment with any private school, parochial school, private college or university or nonprofit human services agency within the local government. The ordinance or resolutio…

(a) Amount.--Written or telephonic price quotations from at least three qualified and responsible contractors shall be requested for all contracts in excess of the base amount of $10,000, subject to adjustment under subsection (b), but are less than the amount requiring advertise…

No local government shall evade the provisions of section 2308 (relating to bids for certain joint purchases) as to advertising for bids or purchasing materials or contracting for services piecemeal for the purpose of obtaining prices under a base amount of $18,500, subject to ad…