1Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
2conduct a study concerning the consolidation <-or merger of
3municipal police departments in this Commonwealth.

4WHEREAS, There are 1,124 municipal police departments serving
5the citizens of this Commonwealth; and

6WHEREAS, This Commonwealth currently faces a period of fiscal
7concern that requires each <-department of State government level 
8of government in this Commonwealth to consider avenues of
9potential reduction in costs and expenditures; and

10WHEREAS, One potential way to reduce costs while continuing
11to ensure public safety is to consolidate or merge municipal
12police departments; therefore be it

13RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
14Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study
15concerning the consolidation <-or merger of municipal police
16departments in this Commonwealth; and be it further

17RESOLVED, That the study include an analysis of the funding

1of municipal police departments and provide recommendations
2necessary to improve the manner in which <-the funding is 
3allocated to the municipal police departments <-are funded
4throughout this Commonwealth; and be it further

<-5RESOLVED, That the study include an exploration of additional
6ways in which municipalities can determine and share the costs
7of police services, such as purchasing services in this
8Commonwealth; and be it further

9RESOLVED, That the study include an analysis of any potential
10savings that may result from the consolidation or merger of
11municipal police departments or otherwise sharing police
12services, such as purchasing services in this Commonwealth; and
13be it further

14RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
15provide <-recommendations concerning the suggested guidelines to 
16assist municipalities with a municipal police department to 
17identify those municipal police departments best suited for
18consolidation or merger; and be it further

19RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
<-20submit the report to the chairman and minority chairman of the 
21Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives by December 
2230, 2013. <-prepare a report with its analysis and recommendations 
23and transmit a copy of the report to the chairman, minority 
24chairman and all members of the Local Government Committee of 
25the House of Representatives within one year of the adoption of 
26this resolution.