PRINTER'S NO. 987
No. 907 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY O'PAKE, BODACK, COSTA, KUKOVICH, STAPLETON, STOUT,
TARTAGLIONE, RHOADES, MUSTO, BELAN, AFFLERBACH AND GERLACH,
APRIL 15, 1997
REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, APRIL 15, 1997
AN ACT
1 Establishing the Commonwealth Matching Fund for Municipal Police
2 and providing for expenditures from the fund.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Short title.
6 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Commonwealth
7 Matching Fund for Municipal Police Act.
8 Section 2. Declaration of policy.
9 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
10 (1) In order to make neighborhoods safe, police should
11 be visible in communities--talking with citizens, walking
12 beats to get to know neighborhoods and, most importantly,
13 letting criminals know that the police and the law-abiding
14 citizens are in control and not street thugs.
15 (2) Putting more police on the streets will do more to
16 reduce crime than building more new prisons. Increasing the
17 size of our police forces makes common sense and is fiscally
1 prudent; a goal of 1,000 additional police officers on the
2 streets throughout this Commonwealth is a practical
3 objective.
4 (3) The 1994 Federal Crime Bill will provide funds to
5 many Pennsylvania municipalities to hire police officers. The
6 Federal funds will pay for 75% of the cost of these officers
7 with decreasing support over a three-year period. Under this
8 act the Commonwealth provides for the cost of the diminishing
9 Federal share of support at the 50% level, thus capping the
10 local cost at 50%.
11 (4) Providing this funding will not be inexpensive but
12 providing for the security of the citizens of this
13 Commonwealth is the core responsibility of State government.
14 Section 3. Establishment.
15 The Commonwealth Matching Fund for Municipal Police is hereby
16 established in the General Fund.
17 Section 4. Source of funding.
18 The Commonwealth Matching Fund for Municipal Police shall be
19 funded by an increase of $100 in the amount of the fine levied
20 on conviction of an offense under any of the following:
21 (1) Section 13 of the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233,
22 No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and
23 Cosmetic Act.
24 (2) 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 27 (relating to assault).
25 (3) 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 55 (relating to riot, disorderly
26 conduct and related offenses).
27 (4) 75 Pa.C.S. Ch. 37 Subch. B (relating to serious
28 traffic offenses).
29 Section 5. Use of funds.
30 The Commonwealth Matching Fund for Municipal Police shall be
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1 used to provide grants of up to 50% of the cost of additional
2 police officers in municipalities throughout this Commonwealth.
3 At least 60% of the moneys shall go to municipalities in
4 counties of the third class through eighth class.
5 Section 6. Administration.
6 The Office of Attorney General shall administer the
7 Commonwealth Matching Fund for Municipal Police.
8 Section 7. Additional fines.
9 An additional fine of $100, to be used as outlined in this
10 act, shall be included in the sentence of every person convicted
11 of any offense listed in section 4.
12 Section 8. Effective date.
13 This act shall take effect in 90 days.
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