PRINTER'S NO. 2777
No. 2124 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY LYNCH, ARGALL, ARMSTRONG, BAKER, BATTISTO, BEBKO-
JONES, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF, BIRMELIN, BOYES, CAWLEY,
L. I. COHEN, CORNELL, DALLY, DeWEESE, FAIRCHILD, GODSHALL,
GRUCELA, HENNESSEY, HERMAN, HERSHEY, HUTCHINSON, KREBS,
LEDERER, LEH, MAJOR, MASLAND, McCALL, ORIE, PHILLIPS, ROHRER,
SATHER, SCRIMENTI, SEYFERT, STABACK, STEELMAN, STRITTMATTER,
TRAVAGLIO, TRELLO, TRUE, WILT, YOUNGBLOOD, ZIMMERMAN AND ZUG,
DECEMBER 8, 1999
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, DECEMBER 8, 1999
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, further defining "police department"
3 and "police officer" for purposes of municipal police
4 education and training; and further providing for automatic
5 certification and for payment of certain county costs.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. The definitions of "police department" and
9 "police officer" in section 2162 of Title 53 of the Pennsylvania
10 Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
11 § 2162. Definitions.
12 The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
13 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
14 context clearly indicates otherwise:
15 * * *
16 "Police department." Any of the following:
1 (1) A public agency of a political subdivision having
2 general police powers and charged with making arrests in
3 connection with the enforcement of the criminal or traffic
4 laws. This paragraph includes the sheriff's office [in a
5 county of the second class].
6 (2) A campus police or university police department, as
7 used in section 2416 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177,
8 No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, certified
9 by the Office of Attorney General as a criminal justice
10 agency under the definition of "criminal justice agency" in
11 18 Pa.C.S. § 9102 (relating to definitions). This paragraph
12 does not include a campus police or university police
13 department of the State System of Higher Education and its
14 member institutions.
15 "Police officer." Any full-time or part-time employee of a
16 city, borough, town, township, campus police or university
17 police or county police department assigned to criminal or
18 traffic law enforcement duties; any deputy sheriff [of a county
19 of the second class]; and, for the purpose of training only,
20 security officers of a first class city housing authority. The
21 term excludes persons employed to check parking meters or to
22 perform only administrative duties and auxiliary and fire
23 police.
24 * * *
25 Section 2. Sections 2168 and 2171 of Title 53 are amended to
26 read:
27 § 2168. Automatic certification.
28 (a) General rule.--All police officers, including deputy
29 sheriffs [in counties of the second class], hired prior to June
30 18, 1974, shall be automatically certified for basic training
19990H2124B2777 - 2 -
1 but shall be required to complete the in-service training as set
2 forth in section 2164(7) (relating to powers and duties of
3 commission).
4 (b) Campus or university police.--Any campus or university
5 police officer who, as of August 27, 1993, has successfully
6 completed a basic training course similar to that required under
7 this subchapter shall, after review by the commission, be
8 certified as having met the basic training requirements of this
9 subchapter. Any campus or university police officer who, as of
10 August 27, 1993, has not successfully completed a basic training
11 course similar to that required under this subchapter which
12 qualifies the police officer for certification under this
13 subsection shall be able to perform the duties of a campus or
14 university police officer until certified by the commission, but
15 no later than August 29, 1994.
16 (c) Deputy sheriffs [in counties of the second class].--
17 Deputy sheriffs [in counties of the second class] who have
18 successfully completed the basic training course under this
19 subchapter prior to February 6, 1995, shall be assigned a
20 certification number under this subchapter.
21 § 2171. Payment of certain county costs.
22 Counties [of the second class] shall be liable for costs
23 incurred for the certification of deputy sheriffs. The costs
24 shall not exceed the sum per police officer assessed against
25 municipalities.
26 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
H30L53DMS/19990H2124B2777 - 3 -