PRINTER'S NO. 571
No. 542 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY PICCOLA, BRIGHTBILL, ULIANA, JUBELIRER, MELLOW, AFFLERBACH, GERLACH, HELFRICK, O'PAKE, ROBBINS, MADIGAN, WOZNIAK, THOMPSON AND DELP, FEBRUARY 25, 1997
REFERRED TO URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING, FEBRUARY 25, 1997
AN ACT 1 Amending the act of July 15, 1957 (P.L.901, No.399), entitled 2 "An act giving cities of the third class the right and power 3 to adopt one of several plans of optional charters and to 4 exercise the powers and authority of local self-government 5 subject to certain restrictions and limitations; providing 6 procedures for such adoption and defining the effect 7 thereof," authorizing the adoption of property maintenance 8 ordinances; and further providing for fines and penalties. 9 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 10 hereby enacts as follows: 11 Section 1. Section 303 of the act of July 15, 1957 (P.L.901, 12 No.399), known as the Optional Third Class City Charter Law, 13 amended October 3, 1988 (P.L.736, No.105), is amended to read: 14 Section 303. Each city governed by an optional form of 15 government pursuant to this act shall, subject to the provisions 16 of and limitations prescribed by this act, have full power to: 17 (1) Organize and regulate its internal affairs, and to 18 establish, alter, and abolish offices, positions and employments 19 and to define the functions, powers and duties thereof and fix 20 their term, tenure and compensation;
1 (2) Adopt and enforce local [police] ordinances [of all 2 kinds and impose penalties of fine not exceeding one thousand 3 dollars ($1,000) for a violation of a building, housing, 4 property maintenance, health, fire or public safety code or 5 ordinance, and for water, air and noise pollution violations, 6 and not exceeding six hundred dollars ($600) for a violation of 7 any other ordinance, or imprisonment for any term not exceeding 8 ninety days, or both; to construct]; 9 (2.1) Impose penalties of fine not exceeding one per month 10 on a property and limited to no more than one thousand dollars 11 ($1,000) for the first two violations and not exceeding ten 12 thousand dollars ($10,000) for the third and subsequent 13 violation of the same subsection of a building, housing or 14 property maintenance ordinance on the same property; 15 (2.2) Impose penalties of fine not exceeding one thousand 16 dollars ($1,000) for violations of any section of any other 17 ordinance or a term of imprisonment of ninety days or both; 18 (2.3) Construct, acquire, operate or maintain any and all 19 public improvements, projects or enterprises for any public 20 purpose, subject to referendum requirements otherwise imposed by 21 law, and to exercise all powers of local government in such 22 manner as its governing body may determine; 23 (3) Sue and be sued, to have a corporate seal, to contract 24 and be contracted with, to buy, sell, lease, hold and dispose of 25 real and personal property, to appropriate and expend moneys, 26 and to adopt, amend and repeal such ordinances and resolutions 27 as may be required for the good government thereof; 28 (4) Exercise powers of condemnation, borrowing and taxation 29 in the manner provided by general law applicable to cities of 30 the third class. 19970S0542B0571 - 2 -
1 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days. L19L11JS/19970S0542B0571 - 3 -