A02032
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1591
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY KNOWLES, FREEMAN, JAMES, MOUL AND SAPPEY,
JUNE 10, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, JUNE 10, 2021
AN ACT
Amending the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), entitled
"An act relating to counties of the first, second class A,
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,"
in names and corporate powers, classification of counties,
further providing for ascertainment, certification and effect
of change of class; and making related repeals.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 211 of the act of August 9, 1955
(P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code, is amended by
adding a subsection to read:
Section 211. Ascertainment, Certification and Effect of
Change of Class.--* * *
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, as
a result of the delays in the 2020 Federal decennial census and
the COVID-19 pandemic, the classification of all counties as of
the effective date of this subsection shall remain unchanged
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until the 2030 census, at which time the procedures established
in subsections (a), (b) and (c) shall apply. For the purposes of
determining whether a county has decreased in population so as
to recede in classification under subsection (b) following the
2030 decennial census, both the 2020 and 2030 decennial censuses
shall be considered.
(d) Unless the board of commissioners of a county meeting
the requisite county population levels in section 210 enacts an
ordinance or adopts a resolution approving a change of
classification prior to February 22, 2022, as a result of the
delays in the 2020 Federal decennial census and the COVID-19
pandemic, the classification of all counties as of the effective
date of this subsection shall remain unchanged until the 2030
census, at which time the procedures established in subsections
(a), (b) and (c) shall apply. For the purposes of determining
whether a county has decreased in population so as to recede in
classification under subsection (b) following the 2030 decennial
census, both the 2020 and 2030 decennial censuses shall be
considered.
Section 2. Repeals are as follows:
(1) The General Assembly declares that the repeals under
paragraph (2) are necessary to effectuate the addition of
section 211(d).
(2) Sections 210 and 211 of the act of July 28, 1953
(P.L.723, No.230), known as the Second Class County Code, are
repealed.
Section 3. This act shall take effect September 30, 2021, or
immediately, whichever is later.
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