THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY McGEEHAN, JOSEPHS, MENSCH, M. O'BRIEN, PHILLIPS AND SIPTROTH, MARCH 5, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON URBAN AFFAIRS, MARCH 5, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending the act of April 21, 1949 (P.L.665, No.155), entitled

"An act to carry into effect section one of article fifteen

of the Constitution, giving cities of the first class the

right and power to frame, adopt and amend their own charters

and to exercise the powers and authority of local self-

government, and providing the procedure therefor; imposing

certain restrictions, limitations and regulations; imposing

duties upon city councils, city officers, county boards of

elections, courts and the Secretary of the Commonwealth; and

providing for the payment of certain expenses by such cities;

and imposing penalties," providing for contracts granting

rights to use or control city suites.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  The act of April 21, 1949 (P.L.665, No.155),

known as the First Class City Home Rule Act, is amended by

adding a section to read:

Section 18.1.  Contracts Granting Rights to Use or Control

City Suites.--No city officer shall execute any contract under

which the city will be granted the right to use or control a

city suite unless such contract requires that the city suite be

leased by the city to the highest responsible bidder for a term

of no more than ten years, with all rental payments paid into

the city's general fund. If the city has the right to use or

control the use of a city suite under a contract executed before

the effective date of this section, then the city shall lease

such city suite to the highest responsible bidder for a term of

no more than ten years, with all rental payments paid into the

city's general fund. As used in this section, the term "city

suite" means a suite, box or other portion of a sports stadium,

ballpark, arena or other sports facility with a seating capacity

in excess of seventeen thousand seats.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.