Posted: | June 3, 2020 03:59 PM |
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From: | Representative Robert Freeman |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Municipal powers during disaster declaration |
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic it became clear that some of the municipal codes made it difficult for municipalities to meet remotely and what powers they had in such instances. Act 15 of 2020 amended Title 35 Pa.C.S. pertaining to municipal powers during a declared emergency or disaster to provide a mechanism and standards for municipalities to meet remotely only during the COVID-19 emergency. The act also included a permanent change to Title 35 which provided that during a declared disaster or emergency a governing body does not need to be physically present at any one location in order to conduct business if a quorum is otherwise established by the participating members through an authorized telecommunication device. My proposed legislation would clarify provisions added to Title 35 Pa.C.S., Section 7501 (General authority of political subdivisions) contained in Act 15 of 2020 regarding remote meetings during a declaration of disaster or emergency by the Governor.
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Introduced as HB2618