Posted: | May 12, 2016 10:45 AM |
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From: | Representative Dom Costa |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Statewide Board, Commission, Committee, and Council Member Training |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation intended to promote greater understanding by individuals who are appointed to the boards, commissions, authorities or agencies of the Commonwealth regarding open records, public proceedings and fiduciary responsibilities associated with their post. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has over 254 Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Councils that advise or oversee everything from agricultural land condemnation to workers’ compensation appeals to the affairs of the handicapped to uniform construction code review. These governing boards rely on citizens willing to be appointed (usually at no or very little compensation) and make decisions that touches almost every aspect of life in our state. And while the Administrative Code gives the Governor appointment power of the members of these boards and commissions, there is nothing requiring basic training on how to be an effective board member. My legislation addresses this problem by authorizing the State Ethics Commission to provide training on the Right-to-Know law, the Sunshine law, and basic training on the fiduciary responsibilities of being a good board or commission member. An individual who has been appointed or reappointed on or after the effective date will have 90 days to complete the training. An individual who was appointed before the effective date would have 120 days to complete the training. Given the important nature of the work done by our statewide boards and commissions, it is essential that individuals chosen by the Governor to serve are well prepared to do the job. I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this legislation. |
Introduced as HB2193