PRINTER'S NO. 279
No. 249 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY TANGRETTI, GORDNER, FICHTER, CLARK, ARGALL,
COLAIZZO, SHANER, TIGUE, CURRY, SANTONI, B. SMITH, CAWLEY,
READSHAW, SAINATO, FLICK, WALKO, M. N. WRIGHT, BELARDI,
GEIST, MANDERINO, VAN HORNE, STABACK, MICHLOVIC, DERMODY,
BLAUM, PLATTS, VEON, MELIO, BAKER, MICOZZIE, STURLA,
YOUNGBLOOD, NAILOR, McCALL, DEMPSEY, LEDERER, DeLUCA, KELLER,
HALUSKA, DENT, PRESTON, ITKIN, CORPORA, RAMOS, SCRIMENTI,
BOSCOLA, BEBKO-JONES, MARKOSEK, ROONEY, CASORIO, SURRA,
GIGLIOTTI, CAPPABIANCA, JAROLIN, OLASZ, FAIRCHILD, PESCI,
COLAFELLA, COY, TRAVAGLIO, LAUGHLIN, JOSEPHS, TRELLO,
PETRARCA, LUCYK, HENNESSEY, STEELMAN, BENNINGHOFF, STETLER,
BELFANTI, KAISER, REBER, TRICH, BARRAR AND THOMAS,
FEBRUARY 5, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, FEBRUARY 5, 1997
AN ACT
1 Providing for a loan program for local police agencies funded by
2 a bond issuance; establishing the Police Agency Loan Division
3 in the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency; and
4 conferring powers and duties on the Secretary of the
5 Commonwealth and the Legislative Reference Bureau.
6 TABLE OF CONTENTS
7 Chapter 1. Preliminary Provisions
8 Section 101. Short title.
9 Section 102. Definitions.
10 Chapter 3. Administration
11 Section 301. Division.
12 Section 302. Fund.
13 Chapter 5. Loan Program
1 Section 501. Authority.
2 Section 502. Loans.
3 Chapter 7. Debt
4 Section 701. Authority to borrow.
5 Section 702. Bonds.
6 Section 703. Sale of bonds.
7 Section 704. Refunding bonds.
8 Section 705. Registration of bonds.
9 Section 706. Proceeds.
10 Section 707. Sinking fund.
11 Section 708. Referendum.
12 Chapter 31. Miscellaneous Provisions
13 Section 3101. Repeals.
14 Section 3102. Effective date.
15 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
16 hereby enacts as follows:
17 CHAPTER 1
18 PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
19 Section 101. Short title.
20 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Police Agency
21 Loan Act.
22 Section 102. Definitions.
23 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
24 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
25 context clearly indicates otherwise:
26 "Agency." The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
27 "Division." The Police Agency Loan Division of the
28 Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency established in section
29 301.
30 "Fund." The Police Agency Loan Fund established in section
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1 302.
2 "Police agency." A police department of a city, town,
3 township, borough or home rule municipality which:
4 (1) Has police coverage for a minimum of 40 hours per
5 week; and
6 (2) has had, for the preceding 18 months, police
7 coverage for a minimum of 40 hours per week.
8 The term includes an office of county detectives working for a
9 district attorney and a regional police department organized
10 under the act of July 12, 1972 (P.L.762, No.180), referred to as
11 the Intergovernmental Cooperation Law, or 53 Pa.C.S. (relating
12 to municipalities generally).
13 "Secretary." The Secretary of the Commonwealth.
14 "Sinking fund." The Police Agency Loan Sinking Fund
15 established in section 707.
16 CHAPTER 3
17 ADMINISTRATION
18 Section 301. Division.
19 (a) Establishment.--The Police Agency Loan Division is
20 established as a division of the agency.
21 (b) Powers and duties.--The division has the following
22 powers and duties:
23 (1) To administer the fund as set forth in section
24 302(c).
25 (2) To administer Chapter 5.
26 (3) To collect loans made under section 502(c). This
27 paragraph includes the power to institute actions for legal
28 or equitable relief.
29 (4) To promulgate regulations to implement this act.
30 Section 302. Fund.
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1 (a) Establishment.--The Police Agency Loan Fund is
2 established as a separate fund in the State Treasury.
3 (b) Source.--The following are the sources of the fund:
4 (1) The proceeds from the sale of bonds under section
5 706.
6 (2) The proceeds from the repayment of principal and
7 interest of loans under section 502(c).
8 (c) Purpose.--The division shall administer the fund to do
9 all of the following:
10 (1) Repay the State Treasurer for the cost of the bond
11 issue under sections 703, 704 and 705.
12 (2) Make loans under section 502(c).
13 (3) Collect loans under section 301(3).
14 (4) Administer this act. In any fiscal year, the
15 division may use for administrative costs 1% of the aggregate
16 debt authorized under section 701.
17 CHAPTER 5
18 LOAN PROGRAM
19 Section 501. Authority.
20 (a) Authorization.--The division may make a loan to a
21 political subdivision for a police agency of the political
22 subdivision as necessary for the proper performance of the
23 police agency's law enforcement duties, to do any of the
24 following:
25 (1) Purchase, expand, modernize or repair buildings or
26 portions of buildings which are used exclusively for police
27 purposes. This paragraph includes police headquarters, police
28 substations and police maintenance garages.
29 (2) Purchase, maintain or repair equipment.
30 (3) Purchase, maintain or repair vehicles.
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1 (b) Amount.--A loan under subsection (a) for the purchase,
2 maintenance or repair of buildings shall be for not less than
3 $5,000 nor more than $200,000. A loan under subsection (a) for
4 the purchase, maintenance or repair of vehicles or equipment
5 shall be for not less than $5,000 nor more than $100,000. No
6 political subdivision may receive loans totaling more than
7 $300,000 in a five-year period.
8 (c) Terms.--
9 (1) A loan must be at an interest rate of 2%.
10 (2) A loan must be repaid in accordance with the
11 legislation applicable to the political subdivision which
12 receives the loan.
13 (3) A loan must have a repayment period as follows:
14 (i) For a loan of not more than $15,000, a period of
15 five years.
16 (ii) For a loan of more than $15,000 but not more
17 than $100,000, a period of ten years.
18 (iii) For a loan of more than $100,000, a period of
19 15 years.
20 Section 502. Loans.
21 (a) Application.--A political subdivision may apply for a
22 loan under section 501 by submitting to the division all of the
23 following:
24 (1) Name of police agency.
25 (2) Proposed use of loan.
26 (3) Need for use under paragraph (2).
27 (4) Documented ability to repay principal and interest
28 of loan.
29 (b) Determination.--
30 (1) Within 60 days of receipt of an application under
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1 subsection (a), the division must make a decision and notify
2 the political subdivision of the decision.
3 (2) Failure to issue timely notice under paragraph (1)
4 shall be deemed a denial of the application.
5 (3) The provisions of 2 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 Subch. A (relating
6 to judicial review of Commonwealth agency action) shall apply
7 to determinations under this subsection.
8 (c) Contracts.--Upon determination of eligibility under
9 subsection (b), the division shall enter into a loan contract
10 with the political subdivision.
11 CHAPTER 7
12 DEBT
13 Section 701. Authority to borrow.
14 Pursuant to section 7(a)(3) of Article VIII of the
15 Constitution of Pennsylvania and the referendum approved by the
16 electorate under section 708, the Governor, Auditor General and
17 State Treasurer are authorized and directed to borrow, on the
18 credit of the Commonwealth, money not exceeding in the aggregate
19 the sum of $20,000,000 to implement Chapter 5.
20 Section 702. Bonds.
21 (a) General rule.--As evidence of the indebtedness
22 authorized under section 701, general obligation bonds of the
23 Commonwealth shall be issued. The Governor, Auditor General and
24 State Treasurer shall direct for each bond the total amount; the
25 form; the denomination; the terms and conditions of issue,
26 redemption and maturity, rate of interest, and time of payment
27 of interest. The latest stated maturity date shall not exceed 30
28 years from the date of the bond first issued for each series.
29 (b) Signature.--Bonds issued under subsection (a) shall bear
30 facsimile signatures of the Governor, Auditor General and State
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1 Treasurer and a facsimile of the Great Seal of the Commonwealth
2 of Pennsylvania and shall be countersigned by two authorized
3 officers of the authorized loan and transfer agents of the
4 Commonwealth.
5 (c) Status.--Bonds issued under subsection (a) shall be
6 direct obligations of the Commonwealth, and the full faith and
7 credit of the Commonwealth are pledged for the payment of the
8 interest on the bonds as it becomes due and the payment of the
9 principal of the bonds at maturity. Bonds issued under
10 subsection (a) shall be exempt from taxation for State and local
11 purposes. The principal of and interest on such bonds shall be
12 payable in lawful money of the United States of America.
13 (d) Format.--Bonds issued under subsection (a) may be issued
14 as coupon bonds or registered as to both principal and interest
15 as the issuing officials may determine. If interest coupons are
16 attached, they shall contain the facsimile signature of the
17 State Treasurer.
18 (e) Amortization.--The issuing officials shall provide for
19 the amortization of the bonds in substantial and regular amounts
20 over the term of the debt as follows:
21 (1) The first retirement of principal shall be stated to
22 mature prior to the expiration of a period of time equal to
23 one-tenth of the time from the date of the first obligation
24 issue to evidence the debt to the date of the expiration of
25 the term of the debt.
26 (2) Retirements of principal shall be regular and
27 substantial if made in annual or semiannual amounts, whether
28 by stated serial maturities or by mandatory sinking fund
29 retirements, computed either in accordance with a level
30 annual debt service plan, as nearly as may be, or upon the
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1 equal annual maturities plan.
2 (f) Processing.--The Governor, the Auditor General and the
3 State Treasurer shall proceed to have the necessary bonds
4 prepared and printed. The bonds, as soon as they are prepared
5 and printed, shall be deposited with the authorized loan and
6 transfer agent of the Commonwealth, there to remain until sold
7 under section 703.
8 Section 703. Sale of bonds.
9 (a) Public sale.--Bonds issued under section 702(a) shall be
10 offered for sale at not less than 98% of the principal amount
11 and accrued interest and shall be sold by the Governor, Auditor
12 General and State Treasurer to the highest and best bidder or
13 bidders after public advertisement, on terms and conditions and
14 upon open competitive bidding, as the Governor, Auditor General
15 and State Treasurer shall direct.
16 (b) Private sale.--Any portion of a bond issue offered under
17 subsection (a) but not sold or subscribed for may be disposed of
18 by private sale by the Governor, Auditor General and State
19 Treasurer, in a manner and at a price not less than 98% of the
20 principal amount and accrued interest, as the Governor shall
21 direct. No commission shall be allowed or paid for the sale of
22 bonds issued under section 702(a).
23 (c) Series.--When bonds are issued, the bonds of each issue
24 shall constitute a separate series to be designated by the
25 issuing officials or may be combined for sale as one series with
26 other general obligation bonds of the Commonwealth.
27 Section 704. Refunding bonds.
28 The Governor, Auditor General and State Treasurer are
29 authorized to provide, by resolution, for the issuance of
30 refunding bonds for the purpose of refunding bonds issued under
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1 section 702(a) and outstanding, either by voluntary exchange
2 with the holders of the outstanding bonds or by providing funds
3 to redeem and retire the outstanding bonds with accrued interest
4 and premium payable on the bonds, at maturity or at a call date.
5 Refunding bonds may be issued by the Governor, Auditor General
6 and State Treasurer to refund bonds previously issued under this
7 section for refunding purposes. Sections 701 through 703 shall
8 apply to bonds under this section.
9 Section 705. Registration of bonds.
10 The Auditor General shall prepare the necessary registry book
11 to be kept in the office of the authorized loan and transfer
12 agent of the Commonwealth for the registration of bonds issued
13 under subsection 702(a), at the request of bond owners,
14 according to the terms and conditions of issue directed by the
15 Governor, Auditor General and State Treasurer. Bonds which are
16 issued without interest coupons attached shall be registered in
17 the registry books kept by the authorized loan and transfer
18 agent of the Commonwealth.
19 Section 706. Proceeds.
20 The proceeds realized from the sale of bonds under section
21 702(a) shall be paid into the fund. The money shall be paid by
22 the State Treasurer into the fund.
23 Section 707. Sinking fund.
24 (a) Establishment.--The Police Agency Loan Sinking Fund is
25 established as a separate fund in the State Treasury.
26 (b) Source.--
27 (1) By November 1, the State Treasurer shall notify the
28 Secretary of the Budget of the amount necessary for the
29 ensuing fiscal year to redeem, with interest, bonds issued
30 under section 702(a).
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1 (2) The General Assembly shall appropriate the amount of
2 money necessary to meet repayment obligations under paragraph
3 (1) for deposit into the Police Agency Sinking Loan Fund.
4 Section 708. Referendum.
5 (a) Question.--
6 (1) The question of incurring indebtedness of
7 $20,000,000 for loans to police agencies for the purpose of
8 purchasing, maintaining and repairing buildings, equipment
9 and vehicles, as necessary for the proper performance of the
10 police agencies' law enforcement duties, shall be submitted
11 to the electors at the next primary, municipal or general
12 election following the effective date of this section. At
13 least three months prior to the election, the secretary must
14 publish the question in at least two newspapers of general
15 circulation in each county in which at least two newspapers
16 of general circulation are published.
17 (2) The secretary shall certify the question to the
18 county boards of election to implement paragraph (1).
19 (b) Form.--The question shall be in substantially the
20 following form:
21 Do you favor the incurring of indebtedness of $20,000,000
22 for loans to police agencies for the purpose of purchasing,
23 maintaining and repairing buildings, equipment and vehicles,
24 as necessary for the proper performance of the police
25 agencies' law enforcement duties?
26 (c) Election.--The election shall be conducted in accordance
27 with the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the
28 Pennsylvania Election Code, except that the time limits for
29 advertisement of notice of the election may be waived as to the
30 question.
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1 (d) Notice.--If a majority of the electors voting in the
2 election under subsection (c) vote in the affirmative, the
3 secretary shall send notice of the vote to the Legislative
4 Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
5 CHAPTER 31
6 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
7 Section 3101. Repeals.
8 All acts and parts of acts are repealed insofar as they are
9 inconsistent with this act.
10 Section 3102. Effective date.
11 This act shall take effect as follows:
12 (1) Section 708 and this section shall take effect
13 immediately.
14 (2) The remainder of this act shall take effect on the
15 date of publication of the notice under section 708(d).
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