Pennsylvania HB 1777: An Act amending Titles 35 (Health and Safety) and 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in local organizations and services, further providing for general authority of political subdivisions; and, in general provisions relating to government and administration, further providing for scope of subchapter, providing for definitions, further providing for establishment and designation, providing for emergency meetings by authorized telecommunications device, repealing provisions relating to exercise of powers and functions, further providing for declaration of policy and for definitions, repealing provisions relating to enabling authority for emergency interim successors for local offices, further providing for emergency interim successors for local officers and for succession period and repealing provisions relating to term and removal of designees.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2184
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1777
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY B. MILLER, FREEMAN, SAPPEY, SMITH-WADE-EL AND
JAMES, JULY 31, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, AUGUST 4, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Titles 35 (Health and Safety) and 53 (Municipalities
Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in
local organizations and services, further providing for
general authority of political subdivisions; and, in general
provisions relating to government and administration, further
providing for scope of subchapter, providing for definitions,
further providing for establishment and designation,
providing for emergency meetings by authorized
telecommunications device, repealing provisions relating to
exercise of powers and functions, further providing for
declaration of policy and for definitions, repealing
provisions relating to enabling authority for emergency
interim successors for local offices, further providing for
emergency interim successors for local officers and for
succession period and repealing provisions relating to term
and removal of designees.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 7501(b) and (d) of Title 35 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended and the section
is amended by adding a subsection to read:
§ 7501. General authority of political subdivisions.
* * *
(b) Declaration of disaster emergency.--A local disaster
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emergency may be declared by the governing body of a political
subdivision upon finding a disaster has occurred or is imminent.
The governing body of a political subdivision may authorize the
mayor or other chief executive officer to declare a local
disaster emergency subject to ratification by the governing
body. The declaration shall not be continued or renewed for a
period in excess of seven days except by [or with the consent]
resolution of the governing body of the political subdivision[.]
for an initial period not to exceed 21 days. Necessary
subsequent periods of continuation or renewal not exceeding 21
days shall be authorized by resolution. Any order or
proclamation declaring, continuing or terminating a local
disaster emergency shall be given prompt and general publicity
and shall be filed promptly with the agency. The effect of a
declaration of a local disaster emergency is to activate the
response and recovery aspects of any and all applicable local
emergency management plans and to authorize the furnishing of
aid and assistance thereunder.
* * *
(d) Temporary suspension of formal requirements.--Each
political subdivision included in a declaration of disaster
emergency declared by either the Governor or the governing body
of the political subdivision affected by the disaster emergency
is authorized to exercise the powers vested under this section
in the light of the exigencies of the emergency situation
without regard to time-consuming procedures and formalities
prescribed by law (excepting mandatory constitutional
requirements) pertaining to the performance of public work,
entering into contracts, the incurring of obligations, the
employment of temporary workers, the rental of equipment, the
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purchase of supplies and materials, the levying of taxes and the
appropriation and expenditure of public funds. [Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, the governing body of a political
subdivision shall not be required to have a quorum physically
present at any one location in order to conduct business if a
quorum is otherwise established by the participating members
through an authorized telecommunication device.]
(d.1) Meeting modifications during disaster emergency.--
During a disaster emergency, the governing body of a political
subdivision shall not be required to have a quorum physically
present at any one location in order to conduct business if a
quorum is otherwise established by the participating members
through an authorized telecommunication device. The provisions
of 53 Pa.C.S. § 1122.1 (relating to emergency meetings by
authorized telecommunications device) shall apply to any meeting
held by the governing body of a municipality under this section.
* * *
Section 2. Section 1121 of Title 53 is amended to read:
§ 1121. Scope of subchapter.
This subchapter applies to all [political subdivisions]
municipalities.
Section 3. Title 53 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 1121.1. Definitions.
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:
"Authorized telecommunications device." The term includes
any device which permits, at a minimum, audio communication
between individuals.
"Disaster emergency." A disaster emergency declared unde