THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY YUDICHAK, BENNINGHOFF, BEYER, BOYD, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, CARROLL, CREIGHTON, DERMODY, FABRIZIO, FREEMAN, GABLER, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GOODMAN, GRELL, GRUCELA, HARRIS, HENNESSEY, HORNAMAN, KOTIK, LEVDANSKY, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MANDERINO, MANN, MARSHALL, MELIO, MURPHY, READSHAW, REICHLEY, SANTONI, K. SMITH, STURLA, VULAKOVICH, WHITE AND YOUNGBLOOD, APRIL 28, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, APRIL 28, 2009  

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Establishing a commission to study the Commonwealth's fragmented

system of local governance and identify methods to promote

more regional collaboration in the delivery of municipal

services and the execution of local government.

RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly,

in response to the recommendations of the 2007 Brookings

Institution Report, Committing to Prosperity: Moving Forward on

the Agenda to Renew Pennsylvania, and the recommendations of the

2007 Pennsylvania Economy League Report, Structuring Healthy

Communities, direct the Majority Leader of the Senate and the

Majority Leader of the House of Representatives to appoint a

commission to study the Commonwealth's system of local

governance and identify methods to promote more regional

collaboration in the delivery of municipal services and the

execution of local government; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the membership of the commission be:

(1)  The Deputy Secretary for Community Affairs and

Development, Pennsylvania Department of Community and

Economic Development, who shall serve as chairperson.

(2)  The chairperson and minority chairperson of the

Local Government Committee of the Senate or their designees.

(3)  The chairperson and minority chairperson of the

Local Government Committee of the House of Representatives or

their designees.

(2)  One member of the Senate appointed by the Majority

Leader of the Senate.

(3)  One member of the Senate appointed by the Minority

Leader of the Senate.

(4)  One member of the House of Representatives appointed

by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(5)  One member of the House of Representatives appointed

by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(6)  Members appointed as follows:

(i)  A representative of the Pennsylvania Economy

League, appointed from a list submitted by the league to

the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(ii)  A representative of the Council of State

Governments, appointed from a list submitted by the

council to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(iii)  A representative of the County Commissioners

Association of Pennsylvania, appointed from a list

submitted by the association to the Speaker of the House

of Representatives.

(iv)  Two representatives of 10,000 Friends of

Pennsylvania, one representing the organization is at

large and one representing the organization's subsidiary

campaign to Renew Pennsylvania, both appointed from a

list submitted by the organization to the Speaker of the

House of Representatives.

(v)  A representative of the Pennsylvania State

Association of Township Supervisors, appointed from a

list submitted by the association to the President pro

tempore of the Senate.

(vi)  A representative of the Pennsylvania State

Association of Boroughs, appointed from a list submitted

by the association to the President pro tempore of the

Senate.

(vii)  A representative of the Pennsylvania League of

Cities and Municipalities, appointed from a list

submitted by the league to the President pro tempore of

the Senate.

(viii)  A representative of the Pennsylvania

Municipal Authorities Association, appointed from a list

submitted by the association to the President pro tempore

of the Senate.

(ix)  The Executive Director of the State Planning

Board, or his designee.

(x)  The Executive Director of the Local Government

Commission or his designee;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the commission be staffed by the Legislative

Office for Research Liaison; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the commission be charged with the following:

(1)  Conduct a study of the current system of local

governance in Pennsylvania.

(2)  Conduct a study of the current State financial and

technical assistance programs available to municipalities.

(3)  Provide recommended measures that would ensure or

improve the fiscal stability of municipalities.

(4)  Provide recommended changes that would make regional

cooperation more attractive to municipalities.

(5)  Provide recommended changes that would remove or

reduce barriers to regional cooperation;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the commission report to the General Assembly

the results of its study and its recommendations and file the

report with the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of

the House of Representatives within six months of the adoption

of this concurrent resolution.