THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY VULAKOVICH, HEFFLEY, KILLION, KNOWLES, KORTZ, MURT, READSHAW, ROSS, SONNEY AND TURZAI, JULY 20, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON URBAN AFFAIRS, JULY 20, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of May 28, 1937 (P.L.955, No.265), entitled, as

amended, "An act to promote public health, safety, morals,

and welfare by declaring the necessity of creating public

bodies, corporate and politic, to be known as housing

authorities to engage in slum clearance, and to undertake

projects, to provide dwelling accommodations for persons of

low income; providing for the organization of such housing

authorities; defining their powers and duties; providing for

the exercise of such powers, including the acquisition of

property by purchase, gift or eminent domain, the renting and

selling of property, and including borrowing money, issuing

bonds, and other obligations, and giving security therefor;

prescribing the remedies of obligees of housing authorities;

authorizing housing authorities to enter into agreements,

including agreements with the United States, the

Commonwealth, and political subdivisions and municipalities

thereof; defining the application of zoning, sanitary, and

building laws and regulations to projects built or maintained

by such housing authorities; exempting the property and

securities of such housing authorities from taxation; and

imposing duties and conferring powers upon the State Planning

Board, and certain other State officers and departments,"

further providing for powers of an authority.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 10(ee) of the act of May 28, 1937

(P.L.955, No.265), known as the Housing Authorities Law, added

October 4, 1978 (P.L.1008, No.215), is amended to read:

Section 10.  Powers of an Authority.--An Authority shall

constitute a public body, corporate and politic, exercising

public powers of the Commonwealth as an agency thereof, which

powers shall include all powers necessary or appropriate to

carry out and effectuate the purpose and provisions of this act,

including the following powers, in addition to others herein

granted:

* * *

(ee)  In a county of the second class and city of the second 

class, to appoint police officers who shall [have the same

rights, powers and duties as other peace officers in the

Commonwealth] exercise the same powers that may be exercised

under authority of law or ordinance by the police of the

municipalities wherein the Authority is located, including, but

not limited to, those powers conferred pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S.

Ch. 89 Subch. D (relating to municipal police jurisdiction) with

respect to the property and enforcing order on and adjacent to

the grounds and buildings of the Authority: Provided, That said

police officers complete the same course of instruction as is

required for municipal police officers by [the act of June 18,

1974 (P.L.359, No.120), referred to as the Municipal Police

Education and Training Law] 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 21 Subch. D (relating

to municipal police education and training), and receive

certification by the Municipal Police Officers' Education and

Training Commission as having completed the instruction. Said

police officers shall maintain the certification as a condition

of employment as police officers for the Authority.

* * *

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.