PRINTER'S NO. 2145
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1889
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY ROZZI, N. NELSON, D. WILLIAMS, DELLOSO, NEILSON,
CIRESI AND WARREN, SEPTEMBER 21, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SEPTEMBER 21, 2021
AN ACT
Amending Title 11 (Cities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in council, further providing for oath of council
members, quorum and rules and for meetings of council, notice
and participation by telecommunication device.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 11004(b)(3) and 11005(b) of Title 11 of
the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
§ 11004. Oath of council members, quorum and rules.
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(b) Quorum.--
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[(3) Only members physically present at a meeting place
within the city shall be counted in establishing a quorum.]
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§ 11005. Meetings of council, notice and participation by
telecommunication device.
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(b) Telecommunication.--Council may provide for the
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participation of council members and the public in meetings of
council by means of telecommunication devices, including
telephones or computer terminals which permit audio
communication, between locations. [if:
(1) A quorum under section 11004 (relating to oath of
council members, quorum and rules) is established at the
convening or reconvening of the meeting. If, after the
convening or reconvening of the meeting, a member has been
disqualified from voting as a matter of law but is still
physically present, council members participating by
telecommunication device in accordance with this section
shall be counted to maintain a quorum.
(2) The telecommunication device used permits the member
or members of council not physically present at the meeting
to:
(i) speak to and hear the comments and votes, if
any, of the members of council who are physically present
as well as other members of council who may not be
physically present and who are also using a
telecommunication device to participate in the meeting;
and
(ii) speak to and hear the comments of the public
who are physically present at the meeting.
(3) The telecommunication device used permits members of
council and the members of the public who are physically
present at the meeting to speak to and hear the comments and
votes, if any, of the member or members of council who are
not physically present at the meeting.
(4) Council may only authorize participation by
telecommunication device for any of the following reasons for
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physical absence:
(i) Illness or disability of the member of council.
(ii) Care for the ill or newborn in the member's
immediate family.
(iii) Emergency.
(iv) Family or business travel.
(5) Nothing in this subsection may be construed to limit
the protection and prohibition contained in any law or
regulation relating to the rights of the disabled.]
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Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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