THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY FREEMAN, GRUCELA, ROSS, GINGRICH AND KESSLER, MAY 26, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MAY 26, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending the act of June 23, 1931 (P.L.932, No.317), entitled

"An act relating to cities of the third class; and amending,

revising, and consolidating the law relating thereto," in

civil service, further providing for rules and regulations

and examinations and for selection of appointee from a

certified list of applicants.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  The act of June 23, 1931 (P.L.932, No.317), known

as The Third Class City Code, reenacted and amended June 28,

1951 (P.L.662, No.164), is amended by adding a section to read:

Section 4404.1.  Physical and Psychological Medical

Examinations.--(a)  A board may require that an applicant

conditionally appointed in accordance with section 4406 of this

act undergo a physical or psychological medical examination as a

condition of permanent appointment. Physical medical

examinations, if required, shall be under the direction of a

physician or other qualified medical professional. Psychological

medical examinations, if required, shall be under the direction

of a psychiatrist or psychologist.

(b)  A physician, other qualified medical professional,

psychiatrist or psychologist shall be appointed by council and

shall render an opinion as to whether the conditional appointee

has a physical or mental condition which calls into question his

or her ability to perform all of the essential functions of the

position for which he or she was conditionally appointed.

(c)  If the opinion rendered by the medical examiner calls

into question the conditional appointee's ability to perform all

essential functions of a position, the director of the

department within which the position is to be filled shall meet

with the conditional appointee for the purpose of having one or

more interactive discussions focused on the issue of whether the

conditional appointee can, with or without reasonable

accommodation, perform all the essential functions of the

position.

(d)  If, at the conclusion of the interactive discussion

process, the department director determines that the conditional

appointee is not qualified, the department director shall give

written notice to the conditional appointee and the board.

(e)  Nothing in this act shall be construed as authorizing

physical or psychological medical examinations prior to

conditional appointment in accordance with section 4406 of this

act.

(f)  As used in this section, the term "medical examination"

shall mean any examination, procedure, inquiry or test designed

to obtain information about medical history or a physical or

mental condition which might disqualify an applicant if it would

prevent the applicant from performing, with or without

reasonable accommodation, all of the essential functions of the

position.

Section 2.  Section 4406 of the act, amended October 13, 1965

(P.L.579, No.300), is amended to read:

Section 4406.  Selection of Appointee from Certified List of

Applicants.--Said boards shall make and keep, in numerical

order, a list containing the names of all applicants for civil

service positions in said city who may pass the required [mental

and physical examinations.] examinations, including any required

physical fitness or agility examinations that are job-related

and consistent with business necessity. Where more than one

person takes examinations for any of said positions at the same

time, the names of all those successfully passing such

examination shall be entered upon the list of eligible names in

the order of their respective percentages, the highest coming

first. The board shall furnish to council a certified copy of

all lists so prepared and kept. Wherever any vacancy shall occur

in any civil service position in said city, the city council

shall make written application to the president of the proper

board, who shall forthwith certify to the city council, in

writing, the three names on the list of applicants for such

position having the highest percentage, but if there be less

than three eligible names on such list, the board shall certify

such name or names. Thereupon the director of the department in

which such appointment is to be made shall nominate to the city

council a person from the list submitted to fill such vacancy.

If the city council approves such nomination, the person

nominated shall be conditionally appointed by council to fill

such vacancy, and shall be assigned for service in the

department[.], subject to any physical or psychological medical

examinations that may be required by the appropriate examining

board as a condition of permanent appointment in accordance with

section 4404.1 of this act. If the council does not approve such

nomination, or if the appointee is determined by the medical

examination process to be unqualified, then the director of the

department in which such appointment is to be made shall submit

another nomination for such position from the remaining names,

if any, and if such nomination is not approved by the council,

or if the appointee is determined by the medical examination

process to be unqualified, he shall submit the third name, if

any. The person whose nomination by the director is approved by

the city council shall be appointed to fill such a position in

the department or as building inspector. In all cases the boards

may recommend those in the employ of a department for promotion

in case the person recommended is competent for the higher

position. The name of the person so appointed shall be

immediately stricken from the list of said board, and the names

of the rejected persons shall immediately be restored to their

proper place in said list: Provided, however, That if the name

of any applicant has been submitted to the said council and been

rejected three times or the appointee has been determined by the

medical examination process to be unqualified, then such name

shall be stricken from the eligible list. As used in this

section, the term "medical examination" shall have the meaning

given it in section 4404.1 of this act.

Section 3.  Nothing contained in the addition of section

4404.1 of the act or the amendment of section 4406 of the act

shall affect the validity of any civil services appointments

made prior to the effective date of this section.

Section 4.  This act shall take effect immediately.