PRINTER'S NO. 2403
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1651
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY KRIEGER, COHEN, SACCONE, DUNBAR, DAVIDSON, BARRAR,
TALLMAN, MURT, COX, DeLUCA, BENNINGHOFF, CHRISTIANA AND
KORTZ, OCTOBER 20, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 20, 2015
AN ACT
Amending Title 65 (Public Officers) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in open meetings, further providing
for public participation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 710.1(a) of Title 65 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
ยง 710.1. Public participation.
(a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (d), the
board or council of a political subdivision or of an authority
created by a political subdivision shall provide a reasonable
opportunity at each advertised regular meeting and advertised
special meeting for residents of the political subdivision or of
the authority created by a political subdivision or for
taxpayers of the political subdivision or of the authority
created by a political subdivision or for both to comment on
[matters] each matter of concern, official action or
deliberation which [are] is or may be before the board or
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council prior to taking official action[. The board or council
has the option to accept all public comment at the beginning of
the meeting.] on the matter. A board or council may not require
a resident to register before the meeting in order to comment.
If the board or council determines that there is not sufficient
time at a meeting for residents of the political subdivision or
of the authority created by a political subdivision or for
taxpayers of the political subdivision or of the authority
created by a political subdivision or for both to comment, the
board or council may defer the comment period to the next
regular meeting or to a special meeting occurring in advance of
the next regular meeting.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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