PRINTER'S NO. 2557
No. 1975 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY SAURMAN, NOYE, VROON, J. L. WRIGHT, PHILLIPS,
STABACK, WILLIAMS, DeLUCA, MELIO, BILLOW AND E. Z. TAYLOR,
OCTOBER 10, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 10, 1989
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 5, 1941 (P.L.84, No.45), entitled "An
2 act providing for and regulating the appointment, promotion
3 and reduction in rank, suspension and removal of paid members
4 of the police force in boroughs, incorporated towns and
5 townships of the first class maintaining a police force of
6 not less than three members; creating a civil service
7 commission in each borough, incorporated town and township of
8 the first class; defining the duties of such civil service
9 commission; imposing certain duties and expense on boroughs,
10 incorporated towns and townships of the first class; imposing
11 penalties, and repealing inconsistent laws," providing for
12 certain personnel actions in relation to police officers
13 convicted of driving under the influence.
14 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
15 hereby enacts as follows:
16 Section 1. The first paragraph of section 20 of the act of
17 June 5, 1941 (P.L.84, No.45), entitled "An act providing for and
18 regulating the appointment, promotion and reduction in rank,
19 suspension and removal of paid members of the police force in
20 boroughs, incorporated towns and townships of the first class
21 maintaining a police force of not less than three members;
22 creating a civil service commission in each borough,
23 incorporated town and township of the first class; defining the
1 duties of such civil service commission; imposing certain duties
2 and expense on boroughs, incorporated towns and townships of the
3 first class; imposing penalties, and repealing inconsistent
4 laws," amended May 9, 1984 (P.L.256, No.58), is amended to read:
5 Section 20. Removals.--No person employed in any police
6 department of any political subdivision shall be suspended,
7 removed or reduced in rank, except for the following reasons:
8 (1) physical or mental disability affecting his ability to
9 continue in service, in which cases the person shall receive an
10 honorable discharge from service; (2) neglect or violation of
11 any official duty; (3) violation of any law of this Commonwealth
12 which provides that such violation constitutes a misdemeanor or
13 felony; (4) inefficiency, neglect, intemperance, disobedience of
14 orders or conduct unbecoming an officer; (5) intoxication while
15 on duty; (6) engaging or participating in the conducting of any
16 political or election campaign otherwise than to exercise his
17 own right of suffrage[.]; (7) a conviction, in any state, of
18 driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.
19 A person so employed shall not be removed for religious, racial
20 or political reasons. A written statement of any charges made
21 against any person so employed shall be furnished to such person
22 within five days after the same are filed.
23 * * *
24 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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