1Amending Title 65 (Public Officers) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, in open meetings, further providing
3for public participation.

4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:

6Section 1. Section 710.1(a) of Title 65 of the Pennsylvania
7Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

8§ 710.1. Public participation.

9(a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (d), the
10board or council of a political subdivision or of an authority
11created by a political subdivision shall provide a reasonable
12opportunity at each advertised regular meeting and advertised
13special meeting for residents of the political subdivision or of
14the authority created by a political subdivision or for
15taxpayers of the political subdivision or of the authority
16created by a political subdivision or for both to comment on
17[matters] each matter of concern, official action or

1deliberation which [are] is or may be before the board or
2council prior to taking official action[. The board or council
3has the option to accept all public comment at the beginning of
4the meeting.] on the matter. A board or council may not require 
5a resident to register before the meeting in order to comment. 
6If the board or council determines that there is not sufficient
7time at a meeting for residents of the political subdivision or
8of the authority created by a political subdivision or for
9taxpayers of the political subdivision or of the authority
10created by a political subdivision or for both to comment, the
11board or council may defer the comment period to the next
12regular meeting or to a special meeting occurring in advance of
13the next regular meeting.

14* * *

15Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.