THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY SMUCKER, WAUGH AND ALLOWAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), entitled,

as amended, "An act relating to counties of the first, third,

fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth classes; amending,

revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating

thereto; relating to imposition of excise taxes by counties,

including authorizing imposition of an excise tax on the

rental of motor vehicles by counties of the first class; and

providing for regional renaissance initiatives," further

providing for classification of counties.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 210 of the act of August 9, 1955

(P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code, amended July 7,

2011 (P.L.268, No.55), is amended to read:

Section 210.  Counties Divided Into Nine Classes.--For the

purposes of legislation and the regulation of their affairs,

counties of this Commonwealth, now in existence and those

hereafter created, shall be divided into nine classes as

follows:

(1)  First Class Counties, those having a population of

1,500,000 inhabitants and over.

(2)  Second Class Counties, those having a population of

800,000 and more but less than 1,500,000 inhabitants.

(2.1)  Second Class A Counties, those having a population of

500,000 and more but less than 800,000 inhabitants.

(3)  (i)  Third Class Counties, those having a population of

210,000 and more but less than 500,000 inhabitants.

(ii)  After the results of any Federal Decennial Census are

published, any county of the third class having a population of

500,000 inhabitants and over may elect not to become a county of

the second class A, by enacting an ordinance or adopting a

resolution of the Board of County Commissioners.

(4)  Fourth Class Counties, those having a population of

145,000 and more but less than 210,000 inhabitants.

(5)  Fifth Class Counties, those having a population of

90,000 and more but less than 145,000 inhabitants.

(6)  Sixth Class Counties, those having a population of

45,000 and more but less than 90,000 inhabitants and those

having a population of 35,000 and more but less than 45,000

inhabitants which by ordinance or resolution of the Board of

County Commissioners elect to be a county of the sixth class.

(7)  Seventh Class Counties, those having a population of

20,000 or more but less than 45,000 inhabitants and those having

a population of 35,000 and more but less than 45,000 inhabitants

which have not elected to be a county of the sixth class.

(8)  Eighth Class Counties, those having a population of less

than 20,000 inhabitants.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.