THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY FREEMAN, MURT, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, DERMODY, FABRIZIO, HARKINS, HORNAMAN, KORTZ, KULA, MAHONEY, MANN, MILLER, PRESTON, READSHAW, SANTARSIERO AND K. SMITH, FEBRUARY 16, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON URBAN AFFAIRS, FEBRUARY 16, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of May 28, 1937 (P.L.955, No.265), entitled, as

amended, "An act to promote public health, safety, morals,

and welfare by declaring the necessity of creating public

bodies, corporate and politic, to be known as housing

authorities to engage in slum clearance, and to undertake

projects, to provide dwelling accommodations for persons of

low income; providing for the organization of such housing

authorities; defining their powers and duties; providing for

the exercise of such powers, including the acquisition of

property by purchase, gift or eminent domain, the renting and

selling of property, and including borrowing money, issuing

bonds, and other obligations, and giving security therefor;

prescribing the remedies of obligees of housing authorities;

authorizing housing authorities to enter into agreements,

including agreements with the United States, the

Commonwealth, and political subdivisions and municipalities

thereof; defining the application of zoning, sanitary, and

building laws and regulations to projects built or maintained

by such housing authorities; exempting the property and

securities of such housing authorities from taxation; and

imposing duties and conferring powers upon the State Planning

Board, and certain other State officers and departments,"

further providing for powers of authority.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 10(ee) of the act of May 28, 1937 (P.L.

955, No.265), known as the Housing Authorities Law, added

October 4, 1978 (P.L.1008, No.215), is amended to read:

Section 10.  Powers of an Authority.--An Authority shall

constitute a public body, corporate and politic, exercising

public powers of the Commonwealth as an agency thereof, which

powers shall include all powers necessary or appropriate to

carry out and effectuate the purpose and provisions of this act,

including the following powers, in addition to others herein

granted:

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(ee)  [In] Except in a city of the [second] first class, to

appoint police officers who shall [have the same rights, powers

and duties as other peace officers in the Commonwealth] exercise

the same powers that may be exercised under authority of law or

ordinance by the police of the municipalities wherein the

Authority is located, including, but not limited to, those

powers conferred pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 89 Subch. D 

(relating to municipal police jurisdiction) with respect to the

property and enforcing order on and adjacent to the grounds and

buildings of the Authority: Provided, That said police officers

complete the same course of instruction as is required for

municipal police officers by [the act of June 18, 1974 (P.L.359,

No.120), referred to as the Municipal Police Education and

Training Law] 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 21 Subch. D (relating to municipal

police education and training).

* * *

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.