PRINTER'S NO. 1979
No. 1622 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY D. EVANS, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, COLAFELLA,
CORRIGAN, CURRY, DALEY, FRANKEL, GEORGE, GRUCELA, HORSEY,
JAMES, JOSEPHS, LEDERER, MANDERINO, McCALL, MELIO, MYERS,
ROBINSON, SANTONI, SCRIMENTI, SOLOBAY, STABACK, SURRA,
THOMAS, WOJNAROSKI, YOUNGBLOOD AND YUDICHAK, MAY 21, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MAY 21, 2001
AN ACT
1 Establishing the Best Practices Review Commission; providing for
2 its powers and duties; and requiring annual reports.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Short title.
6 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Best
7 Practices Review Act.
8 Section 2. Purpose.
9 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
10 (1) There is a need to enhance communication among
11 professionals working in a given service delivery area.
12 (2) There is a need to provide systematic studies of
13 designs and methods for the service delivery of local
14 governments.
15 (3) The citizens of this Commonwealth have the right to
16 know that local government is meeting their needs in a cost-
1 effective manner.
2 Section 3. Definitions.
3 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
4 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
5 context clearly indicates otherwise:
6 "Best practices." An in-depth study and analysis of the
7 means and methods local governments utilize to deliver services
8 to their residents to determine which means and which methods
9 are the most efficient and most cost-effective for the delivery
10 of the studied services.
11 "Commission." The Best Practices Review Commission
12 established in section 4.
13 "Local government." A county, city, borough, incorporated
14 town, township or any other similar general purpose unit of
15 government created by the General Assembly.
16 Section 4. Best Practices Review Commission.
17 (a) Establishment.--The Best Practices Review Commission is
18 hereby established to develop a comprehensive study of local
19 governments to determine the best practices for the delivery of
20 governmental services.
21 (b) Membership.--The commission shall be composed of 11
22 members. The membership of the commission shall consist of:
23 (1) The Secretary of Community and Economic Development
24 or a designee of the secretary.
25 (2) The chairman of the Legislative Budget and Finance
26 Committee.
27 (3) The chairman and the minority chairman of the Local
28 Government Committee of the Senate.
29 (4) The chairman and the minority chairman of the Local
30 Government Committee of the House of Representatives.
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1 (5) One member of the public appointed by the Governor.
2 (6) Four members appointed by the Governor, one each
3 from a list of three persons submitted by the following
4 organizations:
5 (i) The Statewide association representing county
6 commissioners.
7 (ii) The Statewide association representing cities
8 and municipalities.
9 (iii) The Statewide association representing
10 boroughs.
11 (iv) The Statewide association representing township
12 commissioners.
13 (c) Vacancies.--Any vacancy on the commission shall be
14 filled by the appointing power.
15 (d) Term.--Members of the commission shall serve a term of
16 four years or a term commensurate with their term of office,
17 whichever is less.
18 (e) Meetings.--The initial meeting of the commission shall
19 be convened by the chairman of the Legislative Budget and
20 Finance Committee no later than 60 days after the effective date
21 of this act. Thereafter, the commission shall meet monthly
22 unless more frequent meetings are requested.
23 (f) Quorum.--Six members of the commission shall constitute
24 a quorum for all official business of the commission.
25 (g) Chairperson.--At the initial meeting, the members of the
26 commission shall elect from their members a chairperson.
27 Section 5. Powers and duties of commission.
28 (a) Duties and responsibilities.--The commission shall
29 conduct a Statewide study of the current practices of local
30 governments, as well as the latest research findings of experts
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1 of the service area being studied. Services which may be subject
2 to study include, but are not limited to:
3 (1) Recycling.
4 (2) Fire protection.
5 (3) Building inspection.
6 (4) Trash removal.
7 (5) Animal control.
8 (6) Sewer cleaning.
9 (7) Snow removal.
10 (b) Report to General Assembly.--Within 90 days of the
11 effective date of this act, the commission shall identify those
12 services most in need of review. Within 360 days of the first
13 official meeting, the commission shall submit to the General
14 Assembly a Best Practices Review report for each of the services
15 identified with specific recommendations, including:
16 (1) Effective practices.
17 (2) Service design.
18 (3) Delivery methods.
19 (4) Work product.
20 (5) Performance measures including benchmarking.
21 (c) Comprehensive report.--The commission shall communicate
22 the results of the studies by holding a series of at least six
23 regional workshops which all local governments within the
24 specific region shall be invited to attend to review the
25 findings and recommendations and to make suggestions to the
26 commission for further studies and review. Staff who performed
27 the studies shall explain the findings of the studies.
28 Section 6. Legislative Budget and Finance Committee.
29 The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee shall provide
30 the staff and support services necessary to perform reviews and
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1 studies under this act.
2 Section 7. Expiration.
3 This act shall expire on June 30, 2005.
4 Section 8. Effective date.
5 This act shall take effect July 1, 2001.
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